# Reduction of Tumor-Positive Margins in Oncology Surgery

> **NIH NIH R37** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2021 · $563,251

## Abstract

Project Abstract
Approximately 80% of early stage head and neck tumors undergo surgery of curative intent at some point in their
treatment course. The success of this oncologic surgery primarily depends on obtaining clear surgical margins.
Despite best efforts to obtain wide margins, the surgeon always struggles with removal of healthy, functional
tissue. This resulting tension often results in close (<5mm) or positive (tumor at cut surface) margins in 30% of
head and neck cancer resections. We have developed a strategy that could improve both intraoperative and ex
vivo margin assessment using a fluorescently labeled therapeutic antibody as a targeted imaging agent. We
hypothesize that fluorescence imaging of a systemically injected fluorescent anti-epidermal growth factor
receptor (EGFR) antibody (EGFR is over-expressed in 80-90% patients with head and neck cancer) will direct
the attention of the surgeon and pathologist toward areas that are more likely to be tumor-positive and reduce
sampling error. This will lead to improved identification of tumor-positive margins, and thus improved surgical
outcome.
1

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10211827
- **Project number:** 1R37CA245157-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Jason Morgan Warram
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $563,251
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-05-01 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10211827

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10211827, Reduction of Tumor-Positive Margins in Oncology Surgery (1R37CA245157-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10211827. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*