Shiv Kolhe

• MBBS
• In vitro immunofluorescence imaging of sarcoma cells for potential targeted fluorescence-guided surgery

Introduction:

Bone and soft-tissue cancers (sarcomas) are primarily treated by wide surgical excision, with complications occurring if resection margins are inadequate or excess tissue is removed. With no current options for targeted fluorescence-guided surgery, this project establishes that certain fluorescently labelled proteins (antibody-fluorophore conjugates) will attach to overexpressed sarcoma cell-surface targets (MT1-MMP) allowing visualisation of sarcoma margins.

Methods:

Immunofluorescence experiments were carried out with two different fluorophores (IR800DyeCW and ICG) on sarcoma (HT-1080) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7: negative control) to demonstrate targeted and non-targeted fluorescence uptake respectively.

Results:

Increased fluorescence was observed exclusively in incubated HT-1080 cells with IR800DyeCW, whereas ICG fluorescence was increased in the HT-1080s relative to MCF-7s at its lowest concentration.

Conclusion:

The use of targeted antibody-fluorophore conjugates allowed differentiation between sarcoma and breast cancer cells; demonstrating the concept of targeted fluorescence in relation to sarcoma, for future research aiming to also improve sarcoma resection margins.

Funding source:  Newcastle University

Project supervisor: Mr Kenneth Rankin