EAGER: Intra-operative detection and elimination of microscopic residual disease in drug- and radiation-resistant unresectable tumors

William Marsh Rice University, Houston TX

Investigators

Abstract

ABSTRACT This EAGER proposal is aimed at the development of an adjuvant intra-operative therapeutic method that will address several critical needs for treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) as well as other cancer types to ensure clean surgical margins, prevent tumor recurrence, improve patients survival rates, and enhance their quality of life. This goal will be achieved through a novel plasmonic nanobubble (PNB) approach that combines intra-cellular application of four clinical modalities: encapsulated drugs (Doxil), gold nanoparticles (colloidal gold), near-infrared laser pulses of low energy, and X-rays. This method is referred to as quadrapeutics. The translation into clinical practice will be achieved through the folowing objectives: 1) Optimization of the PNB generation and detection methods in vivo and validation of the use of PNBs for the intra-operative diagnosis of MRD in mice. 2) Adopt the PNB and quadrapeutic methods for intraoperative adjuvant therapy of microscopic residual disease in unresectable HNSCC tumors in a mice model.