P163. A novel EGFR & c-MET dual-targeted near-infrared probe for intraoperative rapid imaging of esophageal cancer
Presented During: Thoracic Poster Session II
Peking University People’s Hospital
Boston, Beijing
China - Contact Me
Department of thoracic surgery, Peking University People's Hospital
Sunday, May 4, 2025: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Seattle Convention Center | Summit
Room: Poster Area, Exhibit Hall
Description
Objective: During esophageal cancer surgery, Lugol's iodine staining is commonly used to identify tumor regions. However, this method has limitations, such as insufficient specificity and significant background interference. This study aims to develop a new technique based on a near-infrared fluorescence EGFR & c-MET targeted probe for rapid intraoperative imaging of esophageal cancer regions and tumor margin assessment.
Methods: First, the expression of EGFR and c-MET was verified in esophageal cancer tissue slices using immunohistochemistry. Imaging experiments were then conducted on ex vivo esophageal cancer samples during surgery. After tumor resection, the traditional Lugol's iodine staining method was used to image the tumor area. The samples were subsequently incubated with the EGFR & c-MET targeted probe. After 20 minutes, the samples were imaged using a near-infrared fluorescence imaging system. Finally, The imaging results were compared with pathological and immunohistochemical findings.
Results: A total of 58 esophageal cancer tissue slices were analyzed. Immunohistochemical results showed high expression of EGFR alone, C-MET alone, and both EGFR & c-MET in 15 cases (25.9%), 22 cases (37.9%), and 8 cases (13.8%), respectively. High expression of at least one marker (EGFR or C-MET) was found in 45 cases (77.6%). Imaging experiments were conducted on 15 ex vivo esophageal cancer samples (18 lesions). The success rates for identifying cancer regions using Lugol's iodine staining and targeted fluorescence probe imaging were 88.9% and 83.3%, respectively. However, Lugol's iodine staining produced five false-positive areas, which were confirmed to be non-cancerous by pathology. Compared to traditional Lugol's iodine staining, targeted fluorescence imaging significantly reduced background interference, with an average signal-to-background ratio of 2.9 ± 0.4 and no false positives. Notably, fluorescence imaging detected a lesion approximately 3 mm in diameter, which was confirmed as esophageal cancer by pathology but was not detected by Lugol's iodine staining.
Conclusions: The EGFR & c-MET targeted probe allows for the identification of esophageal cancer lesions and the detection of small lesions during surgery. It offers improved specificity compared to traditional Lugol's iodine staining. This technology holds the potential to assist surgeons in accurately identifying esophageal cancer lesions intraoperatively and assessing tumor margins.
Authors
Jiahui Mi (1), Kezhong Chen (1), Yun Li (1), Fan Yang (1), Jian Zhou (1)
Institutions
(1) Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
Methods: First, the expression of EGFR and c-MET was verified in esophageal cancer tissue slices using immunohistochemistry. Imaging experiments were then conducted on ex vivo esophageal cancer samples during surgery. After tumor resection, the traditional Lugol's iodine staining method was used to image the tumor area. The samples were subsequently incubated with the EGFR & c-MET targeted probe. After 20 minutes, the samples were imaged using a near-infrared fluorescence imaging system. Finally, The imaging results were compared with pathological and immunohistochemical findings.
Results: A total of 58 esophageal cancer tissue slices were analyzed. Immunohistochemical results showed high expression of EGFR alone, C-MET alone, and both EGFR & c-MET in 15 cases (25.9%), 22 cases (37.9%), and 8 cases (13.8%), respectively. High expression of at least one marker (EGFR or C-MET) was found in 45 cases (77.6%). Imaging experiments were conducted on 15 ex vivo esophageal cancer samples (18 lesions). The success rates for identifying cancer regions using Lugol's iodine staining and targeted fluorescence probe imaging were 88.9% and 83.3%, respectively. However, Lugol's iodine staining produced five false-positive areas, which were confirmed to be non-cancerous by pathology. Compared to traditional Lugol's iodine staining, targeted fluorescence imaging significantly reduced background interference, with an average signal-to-background ratio of 2.9 ± 0.4 and no false positives. Notably, fluorescence imaging detected a lesion approximately 3 mm in diameter, which was confirmed as esophageal cancer by pathology but was not detected by Lugol's iodine staining.
Conclusions: The EGFR & c-MET targeted probe allows for the identification of esophageal cancer lesions and the detection of small lesions during surgery. It offers improved specificity compared to traditional Lugol's iodine staining. This technology holds the potential to assist surgeons in accurately identifying esophageal cancer lesions intraoperatively and assessing tumor margins.
Authors
Jiahui Mi (1), Kezhong Chen (1), Yun Li (1), Fan Yang (1), Jian Zhou (1)
Institutions
(1) Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China