Designing a new method for live albumin labeling and lymphatic imaging
2015
Challenge
There is currently no non-invasive method for locating the sentinel lymph nodes (LNs), so named as the first lymph nodes likely to be reached from any cancer metastasis. Unable to examine LNs, doctors are hindered in accurate tumor staging and effective patient management.
Advance
IRP researchers, led by Xiaoyuan (Shawn) Chen, Ph.D., created a method to locate successfully the sentinel lymph nodes in three animal models: hind limb inflammation, orthotopic breast cancer, and metastatic breast cancer. In each model, the lymph nodes are distinguished by 18F-labeled Evans blue dye, a strong fluorescence signal and a high-intensity PET signal.
Impact
The new method’s excellent image quality, easy preparation, multimodality, and biosafety guarantee clinical translation to map sentinel lymph nodes and provide guidance during surgery.
Publications
Wang Y, Lang L, Huang P, Wang Z, Jacobson O, Kiesewetter DO, Ali IU, Teng G, Niu G, Chen X. (2015). In vivo albumin labeling and lymphatic imaging. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 112(1), 208-13.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, June 14, 2023