Preoperative Examination and Intraoperative Identification of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using a Targeted Bimodal Imaging Probe

In clinical imaging modalities, MRI is suitable for preoperative examination. Fluorescence imaging has been proposed to improve the detectability of cancer lesions during the operation. However, the specificity and accuracy of the two imaging modalities is limited. To improve the prognosis and survival rate of the patient suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it is very important to develop a specific probe to achieve early detection and precise resection of HCC. We selected HCC targeting peptide SP94 to conjugate with a NIR dye and Gd chelated DOTA to enhance the specificity of different imaging modalities. MRI and fluorescence imaging were used for preoperative examination of the cancer and detecting the tumor in the operation, respectively. MRI and fluorescence signals significantly increased when HCC occurs and the obtained probe shows high uptake in HCC but negligible uptake in the normal liver tissues. The signal-to-background ratio is higher than 2.23 (MRI) and 2.0 (fluorescence imaging) with noninvasive imaging modalities. After the intraperitoneal cavity was surgically exposed, the signal-to-background ratio is higher than 4.6. By combining the high specificity of our probe with the high sensitivity of fluorescence imaging, the microprimary malignancy and micrometastasis foci (diameter <1 mm) can be easily detected after the intraperitoneal cavity is exposed. These results indicated that our probe is conductive to the early detection and precise resection of the HCC and has the potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with HCC

The comparing results summary of Jain, Han, Srihari, Sun and our methods.

<p>The comparing results summary of Jain, Han, Srihari, Sun and our methods.</p

Score distributions for genuine, identical-twin imposter and non-twin imposter by P071 method.

<p>Score distributions for genuine, identical-twin imposter and non-twin imposter by P071 method.</p

Score distributions.

<p>Score distributions for (a) genuine, (b) identical-twin imposter and (c) non-twin imposter via VeriFinger 6.1 SDK.</p

An example of fingerprint enhancement and minutiae extraction with user interface of VeriFinger 6.1.

<p>An example of fingerprint enhancement and minutiae extraction with user interface of VeriFinger 6.1.</p

The probability distribution of five major fingerprint types/classes for all the fingers in our database.

<p>The probability distribution of five major fingerprint types/classes for all the fingers in our database.</p

The fraction of the same fingerprint type for each of the four fingers of identical twins.

<p>The fraction of the same fingerprint type for each of the four fingers of identical twins.</p

The relationship between FAR and matching threshold.

<p>The relationship between FAR and matching threshold.</p

An example of fingerprint enhancement and minutiae extraction by P071 method.

<p>(a) Original fingerprint; (b) Enhancement results of (a); (c) Minutiae extraction results of (a).</p

ROC curves for identical-twin and non-twin matchings by P071 method.

<p>ROC curves for identical-twin and non-twin matchings by P071 method.</p