SBIR-STTR Award

Tumor diagnosis at early stage before its metastasis is critical to improve the survival of patients We havedeveloped a novel Multifunctional Agent for image guided PET fluorescence surgery with an option ofPhotodynamic therapy PDT in a recent study with a corresponding radioactive I analog we were able todetect the primary and distant lesions from a breast tumor model known to metastasize to lung and bones These results are exciting and provide an opportunity to use the PS in combination with radioactive and nonradioactiveanalog to image lung tumors by PET and then treat them either by fluorescence guided surgery incombination with PDT and or chemotherapy In a parallel study we have shown that cell specificity of the iodinated PS in D culture system derived fromcancer patients and the photo induced STAT dimerization can be used as a biomarker in optimizing the PDT treatmentparameters in patients We extrapolate that translating these findings to clinic will markedly changethe treatment paradigm for loco regional non small cell lung cancer and will result in improved outcomes Detection of occult lymph node disease will be enhanced and intraoperative adjuvant photodynamic therapycan be accomplished Additionally patients whose comorbidities preclude surgical resection can have arepeatable effective PDT