Background: This study investigated whether near infrared (NIR) or visible fluorescent molecular imaging produced a better representation of a mouse model with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Additionally, the study explored whether epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted probes could play an important role in the diagnosis of HNSCC.
Methods: An orthotopic mouse model of HNSCC labeled with the NIR fluorophore, infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP), was developed and monitored noninvasively in real time. The tumors were further evaluated using tumor-specific EGFR-targeted probes conjugated with an NIR dye (IRDye800), or a visible fluorescent protein.
Results: The iRFP cell line produced better results than cells emitting visible light when studying local, distant, and deep tumors in the mouse model. The EGFR-targeted probe conjugated with IRDye800 accurately detected tumor perimeters.
Conclusion: This model has great potential as a unique tool in the study of HNSCC tumor development. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1351-E1357, 2016.
Keywords: epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR); head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); molecular imaging; mouse; near infrared.
© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.