Tumor-targeted fluorescent dyes for fluorescence-guided surgery: preclinical and clinical results

Complete surgical resection of all cancer tissue remains the most reliable cure for cancer. To facilitate quantitative removal of all malignant lesions, we have developed low molecular weight ligand-targeted fluorescent dyes that bind to receptors on cancer cells and thereby illuminate tumor tissues without highlighting normal tissue. With the aid of these dyes surgeons have been able to i) find and resect more malignant lesions, ii) detect and remove positive tumor margins, iii) more accurately stage cancer patients, and iv) locate and resect more malignant lymph nodes than was previously possible using standard surgical methods of palpation and visual inspection. In this presentation, Dr. Low will summarize both preclinical and clinical data leading to the FDA approval of Cytalux, for the intra-operative imaging of ovarian and lung cancers. Data will also be presented on two new tumor-targeted fluorescent dyes that have recently or will soon enter human clinical trials.