New Gene-Based Fluorescence-Labeling Technology Developed for Cancer Surgery

American and Japanese scientists have utilized a cancer-specific adenovirus to deliver and express the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene selectively in tumors in mouse models of disseminated cancer.

All the cancer cells in the mice became genetically labeled with GFP and fluoresced green brightly after the GFP adenovirus was administered to the mice. Using a simple lighting and filter apparatus, the scientists could readily see all of the cancer in the mice in contrast to when the cancer was observed under normal lighting, when most of cancer is invisible. Using fluorescent-guidance, scientists were able to remove surgically all the disseminated cancer successfully.

Scientists from AntiCancer, Inc. (San Diego, CA, USA) and Okayama University (Japan) conducted the project. "The ability to selectively make cancer cells fluoresce in a living organism now enables all the cancer to be visualized, even cancer that is invisible under normal light. This enables the complete removal of all the cancer. If microscopic cancer still remains, the surgeon now has options: either the remaining cancer can be better visualized and targeted using a surgical microscope or, since the cancer has been made genetically-fluorescent, any recurring cancer will still be fluorescent and will be able to be detected and removed subsequently,” stated Charlene M. Cooper, vice president and chief operating officer of AntiCancer.

The study was published September 1, 2009, in the early edition of the Proceedings of the [U.S.] National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). AntiCancer scientists and Okayama University scientists, led by Dr. Toshiyoshi Fujiwara, hope that in the near future AntiCancer's surgical-labeling technology can be brought in to the clinic.

AntiCancer developed the leading mouse models of cancer including MetaMouse and AngioMouse. These models are made imageable with AntiCancer's OncoBrite technology using fluorescent proteins. AntiCancer is also developing new cancer drugs based on genetic engineering that target cancer-specific metabolic defects. The company is developing tumor-targeting bacteria and recombinant-enzyme-based diagnostics for cancer and cardiovascular disease. AntiCancer offers the Histoculture drug response assay (HDRA) for individualized cancer treatment. The company pioneered hair follicle gene therapy and is now using pluripotent hair-follicle stem cells for regenerative medicine for nerve and spinal cord injury.

Related Links:
AntiCancer
Okayama University