# Development of a New Fluorescent Agent for Intraoperative Image-Guided Breast Cancer Surgery

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · 2021 · $352,579

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The precise surgical resection of breast cancer directly influences patient prognosis. However, it is often
difficult or impossible for surgeons to distinguish breast tumor from normal tissue during resection without
any intraoperative image guidance. Accurate identification of tumor margins and complete removal of the
tumor at the initial surgical operation will be of considerable help in a breast tumor operation.
 Recently, optical imaging is gaining traction in the image-guided surgery field especially when coupled
with near infrared (NIR) fluorescence agent. NIR fluorescent image-guided surgery also affords surgeons
numerous advantages such as real-time detection with high-resolution image, and flexible instrument
without ionizing radiation. Furthermore, NIR imaging with addition of enhanced-contrast visualizes disease
prior to transection, and does not change the appearance of the surgical field of view. Indocyanin green
(ICG) is a NIR fluorescence agent and currently registered by the FDA for clinical applications, but not for
oncology. In order to use non-toxic ICG as an intraoperative tumor marker, development of a tumor-
targeting carrier is essential.
 Many attempts have been made in the development of carrier molecules, in particular, cell-penetrating
peptides (CPPs) have shown to be a promising strategy for improving the delivery and intracellular uptake
of diagnostic and therapeutic agents. We have identified that a non-toxic CPP, p28, preferentially enters
and is retained significantly longer in breast cancer cells. We hypothesize that developing p28 as a
nontoxic tumor-targeting carrier for ICG will provide an ideal intraoperative imaging agent to clearly
distinguish tumor and surrounding normal tissue. Preliminary data with this new imaging molecule (p28
chemically conjugated to ICG, ICG-p28) support the hypothesis. We will take a strategic approach to test
our hypothesis in clinically relevant setting in multiple breast cancer animal models. It potentially provides
significant impact based on unique approach to prevent recurrence and consequently reduce risk of
metastatic disease and mortality.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10132318
- **Project number:** 5R01EB023924-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Tohru Yamada
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $352,579
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10132318

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10132318, Development of a New Fluorescent Agent for Intraoperative Image-Guided Breast Cancer Surgery (5R01EB023924-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10132318. Licensed CC0.

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