"Glowing molecule" in this first-in-human clinical trial is poised to revolutionize soft-tissue sarcoma surgery, improving cure rates

Lebanon, NH —A groundbreaking first-in-human study from Dartmouth Health and Dartmouth Cancer Center has unveiled a promising new approach to surgically treating soft-tissue sarcomas, a rare but aggressive form of cancer. The research, recently published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, demonstrates the safety and effectiveness of a novel fluorescent molecule designed to make cancerous cells "glow" during surgery, enabling more precise tumor removal.

"Visually highlighting soft-tissue cancers (sarcomas) so that they can be removed more reliably will lead to higher cure rates," explains co-lead author Eric R. Henderson, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Dartmouth Health and a sarcoma specialist at Dartmouth Cancer Center.

Henderson’s team, who are recognized leaders in the field of fluorescence image guidance, includes clinical researchers and biomedical engineers from across Dartmouth Health, Dartmouth Cancer Center, and the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. They found that a fluorescent molecule, ABY-029, which binds to a protein often found on cancer cells (EGFR), proved safe and provided significant brightness in the operating room, allowing surgeons to better visualize the tumor.

This innovative technique has the potential to dramatically change how these surgeries are performed. Henderson envisions a future where it changes "the way that we perform surgery for these tumors, both for guiding the operation itself and evaluating the removed tumor’s margins to determine whether or not there is tumor at the cut surface.”

More complete surgical removal of solid cancers is the direct benefit Henderson foresees, leading to improved cancer treatment. The molecule demonstrated strong correlation to EGFR expression and encouraging contrast values, similar to larger antibody agents but with significantly faster imaging-to-resection time and no observed drug-related adverse events.

The next steps for this promising research involve determining the precise brightness thresholds that correspond to residual cancer or positive/negative margins. The message for now is clear and hopeful. "We are improving the safety and effectiveness of cancer surgery to increase cure rates and minimize injury to nearby structures, especially nerves," Henderson emphasizes, underscoring Dartmouth's commitment to advancing cancer treatment through cutting-edge research and patient-centered care.

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About Dartmouth Cancer Center: Dartmouth Cancer Center combines the advanced cancer research in partnership with Dartmouth and the Geisel School of Medicine, with award-winning, personalized, and compassionate patient-centered cancer care based at the Norris Cotton Cancer Care Pavilion at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. With 14 locations around New Hampshire and Vermont, Dartmouth Cancer Center is one of only 57 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Each year the Dartmouth Cancer Center schedules 74,000 appointments seeing more than 4,500 newly diagnosed patients and currently offers patients more than 240 active clinical trials. Celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2022, Dartmouth Cancer Center remains committed to excellence, outreach and education. We strive to prevent and cure cancer, enhance survivorship and to promote cancer health equity through pioneering interdisciplinary research and collaborations. Learn more at http://cancer.dartmouth.edu.