PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The goal of this proposal is to demonstrate that brain tumors which harbor isocitrate dehydrogenases (IDH) gene mutations can be distinguished from IDH wild-type (WT) tumors intraoperatively and in real-time, based on their autofluorescence emission properties. Mutation of the IDH1/2 genes is common in low-grade gliomas (LGG) and occur infrequently in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The presence of IDH mutations is the greatest prognostic marker for GBM patients. Patients with IDH mutant gliomas have improved survival compared to their grade matched, WT counterparts. Importantly, recent studies suggest that the benefit of aggressive surgical resection differs between IDH-WT and IDH-mutant tumors; thus, intraoperative identification of IDH mutations will change the operative goals. Subsequently, there is a considerable interest in developing rapid, intraoperative methods to identify IDH mutations. IDH mutations cause global changes in cellular metabolism by impairing the conversion alpha-ketoglutarate (αKG) to isocitrate, which normally reduces NADP+ to NADPH. Instead, αKG is converted to 2-hydroxyglutarate, consuming NADPH to produce NADP+. Brain autofluorescence properties are highly interlinked with changes in cellular metabolism. In particular, the variation in autofluorescence emission intensity of brain tissue has been attributed to differences in NAD(P)H concentration and redox state. Also, differences in the lifetime (or decay) of autofluorescent intensities between glioma and normal brain tissues have been attributed to disparities between free- and bound-NAD(P)H. Therefore, we hypothesize that optical parameters derived from autofluorescence lifetime measurements of gliomas can be correlated to changes in cellular metabolism caused by IDH mutations. This proposal will build on previous clinical studies that demonstrate gliomas of distinct phenotypes have distinct fluorescence lifetime characteristics and our expertise with moving fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) techniques into clinical settings. To accomplish our goal, we propose 2 specific aims. Aim 1: Conduct FLIm intraoperative measurements in LLG and HGG patients (N=80) undergoing conventional neurosurgical procedures. This will provide an extensive database of FLIm parameters (retrieved from both in vivo and ex vivo measurements) correlated with tissue pathology including IDH mutation status. Aim 2: Validate the utilization of FLIm as a means for real-time detection of IDH mutations. This will demonstrate the predictive value of FLIm for detection of IDH mutation status and for potential guidance during brain tumor surgery. In summary, this study will demonstrate the clinical utility of FLIm for intraoperative, real-time assessment of IDH mutation status to improve surgical outcomes. Since the FLIm apparatus is characterized by simple, fast and flexible data acquisition and display, and allows for seamless integration with existing imaging techniques use...