Ronan Cahill1, Michele Diana2, Giuseppe Quero2, Alfonso Lapergola2, Donal O’Shea3. 1Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, 2IRCAD/EITS, Strasbourg, France, 3Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Background: Further advance of near-infrared (NIR) imaging capability into greater clinical usefulness will be helped by the development of new targetable agents. To avoid issues related to dose timing and contamination, compounds that become fluorescent only at the site being targeted would be a significant advance. Here we build on earlier laboratory work to show step-wise advance of the agent towards clinical trialling.
Methods: A novel agent (NIR-AZA) was tested in ex vivo colorectal specimens using two commercially available systems to determine characteristics in biological tissue. It was then trialled in a large animal cohort (n=4) to determine its performance for both intestinal perfusion assessment and lymph node mapping (both stomach and colon) using again a commercially available optical imaging system and including a direct comparison with indocyanine green.
Results: The novel agent was easily detectable in biological tissue in the near infrared wavelength relevant to commercial instrumentation both as a local depot tattoo and as a lymphatic tracing agent. Porcine model trialling again showing excellent detection and tracking characteristics both in the circulation and in gastrointestinal tissue with clear tracking to relevant lymph nodes within minutes evident with the latter. While these studies were non-survival, there was no evidence of local tissue or systemic system toxicity in any case. Direct qualitative and quantificative comparison between in situ NIR-AZA and ICG at both intestinal and lymph basin regions showed similar levels of fluorescence.
Conclusion: The trial compound underwent successful testing indicating proof of earlier projected potential. This is encouraging for further work to advance to first in human testing.
Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.
Abstract ID: 88217
Program Number: P480
Presentation Session: iPoster Session (Non CME)
Presentation Type: Poster