Near-infrared fluorescent agents to highlight non-small cell lung cancer during surgery
Project 2: Near-Infrared Targeted Tracers for Intraoperative Identification of NSCLC
Researchers will develop a combination of four near-infrared fluorescent tracers to help surgeons spot non-small cell lung cancer more clearly during operations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11132692 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Doctors are creating a cocktail of four dyes that glow under near-infrared light to mark lung tumors during surgery. Two of the dyes (folate and GCPII) are already being used in people, and the team will add two more (CAIX and FAP) to catch cancers those miss. They will optimize and test the tracer mix in mice and in pet dogs with spontaneous lung cancer before using the approach in human operating rooms. The aim is to make tumor tissue easier to see so surgeons can remove cancer more precisely.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with non-small cell lung cancer who are scheduled for surgical removal of their tumor and are eligible for intraoperative imaging could be candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with small-cell lung cancer, widespread metastatic disease not treated with surgery, or those who cannot receive imaging tracers may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help surgeons remove lung tumors more completely while sparing healthy lung tissue, potentially lowering recurrence and improving recovery.
How similar studies have performed: Fluorescence-guided surgery has shown promise in other cancers and two of the agents in this plan (folate and GCPII) are already in human trials, but combining four tracers for lung cancer is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Low, Philip Stewart — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Low, Philip Stewart
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.