Abstract
.Similarity of skin cancer with many benign skin pathologies requires reliable methods to detect and differentiate the different types of these lesions. Previous studies have explored the use of disparate optical techniques to identify and estimate the invasive nature of melanoma and basal cell carcinoma with varying outcomes. Here, we used a concerted approach that provides complementary information for rapid screening and characterization of tumors, focusing on squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. Assessment of in vivo autofluorescence lifetime (FLT) imaging of endogenous fluorophores that are excitable at longer wavelengths (480 nm) than conventional NADH and FAD revealed a decrease in the short FLT component for SCC compared to normal skin, with mean values of and , respectively (). Subsequent systemic administration of a near-infrared fluorescent molecular probe in SCC bearing mice, followed by the implementation of image processing methods on data acquired from two-dimensional and three-dimensional fluorescence molecular imaging, allowed us to estimate the tumor volume and depth, as well as quantify the fluorescent probe in the tumor. The result suggests the involvement of lipofuscin-like lipopigments and riboflavin in SCC metabolism and serves as a model for staging SCC.
Highlights
Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide with the World Health Organization estimating 2 to 3 million cases each year
By using a two-component fit, we were able to adequately fit the FLT decay; some variation between samples remained due to the heterogeneous composition of the tissue itself
Noninvasive imaging has an advantage over direct tumor measurement and evaluation in that it allows for understanding the functional and structural behavior of a tumor
Summary
Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide with the World Health Organization estimating 2 to 3 million cases each year. The disease comprises many types, including basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which are forms of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Visible signs of skin cancer can include changes in skin color, roughness, a raised area, or a wound that does not heal. The disease can be more subtle, in some cases presenting as an area that is pruritic with altered sensation.[4] In a subset of cases, there is no obvious border to a skin cancer tumor which can lead to the incomplete resection that occurs in as high as 15% of cases.[5] Because of the diverse appearance of skin cancers and the sometimes obscure tumor border, a reliable detection method would be beneficial. The use of optical imaging methods to increase the accuracy of identifying tumors and their boundaries is attractive because of the low cost, portable instrumentation, and the ability to provide real-time feedback
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