Cells (Jan 2022)

Fluorescence Molecular Targeting of Colon Cancer to Visualize the Invisible

  • Thinzar M. Lwin,
  • Michael A. Turner,
  • Siamak Amirfakhri,
  • Hiroto Nishino,
  • Robert M. Hoffman,
  • Michael Bouvet

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11020249
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 2
p. 249

Abstract

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cause of cancer and cancer-related death. Surgery is the only curative modality. Fluorescence-enhanced visualization of CRC with targeted fluorescent probes that can delineate boundaries and target tumor-specific biomarkers can increase rates of curative resection. Approaches to enhancing visualization of the tumor-to-normal tissue interface are active areas of investigation. Nonspecific dyes are the most-used approach, but tumor-specific targeting agents are progressing in clinical trials. The present narrative review describes the principles of fluorescence targeting of CRC for diagnosis and fluorescence-guided surgery with molecular biomarkers for preclinical or clinical evaluation.

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