Fluorescent Peptide Probe Lights Up Brain Cancer Borders for Better Surgical Removal | Research

The takeaway

An IRDye800CW-labeled peptide targeting uPAR receptor provided clear fluorescence-guided visualization of glioblastoma borders in orthotopic xenograft models, enabling more complete tumor resection.

See cancer during surgery
uPAR peptide probe makes glioblastoma glow in near-infrared light, showing surgeons exactly where tumor ends and normal brain begins

What the researchers found

IRDye800CW-labeled uPAR-targeting peptide provided specific fluorescence visualization of GBM tumor margins in orthotopic xenograft models, enabling fluorescence-guided surgical resection with clear tumor-to-background contrast.

Why it matters

The extent of GBM resection directly determines survival. A peptide that highlights tumor margins during surgery could mean the difference between leaving cancer behind and achieving complete removal.

The numbers in context

TBR >4.5 at 1-12h; superior to 5-ALA; crossed BBB in 3D model; no acute toxicity

How the study worked

Preclinical study. uPAR-targeting peptide conjugated with IRDye800CW near-infrared fluorescent dye. Orthotopic GBM xenograft models. Fluorescence-guided surgery. Tumor margin visualization assessed.

Who was studied

Nude mice with orthotopic patient-derived glioblastoma xenografts

What this study cannot tell us

Mouse xenograft model — human GBM is more heterogeneous. uPAR expression varies between patients. Near-infrared imaging requires specialized surgical equipment. No survival outcome data.

How to read the evidence

Moderate evidence: orthotopic xenograft model with clear imaging results. Preclinical proof of concept for surgical application.

When this study was published

Published 2021. Fluorescence-guided cancer surgery is advancing rapidly with several probes in clinical trials.

The bigger picture

Fluorescence-guided surgery is transforming oncology. Peptide-based probes offer advantages over antibody probes — smaller size enables better tumor penetration and faster clearance from normal tissue, creating sharper tumor boundaries.

Questions still open

Would this probe work in human clinical GBM surgery?
Can uPAR peptide probes detect infiltrating GBM cells beyond the main tumor mass?
Could this probe be combined with therapeutic peptides for simultaneous imaging and treatment?

Common questions

How does the fluorescent peptide help surgery?

The peptide sticks specifically to a receptor (uPAR) on brain cancer cells. It carries a dye that glows in near-infrared light. During surgery, a special camera shows the surgeon exactly where cancer is — cancer glows, normal brain doesn't — enabling more precise removal.

Why is complete tumor removal so important for brain cancer?

In glioblastoma, survival is directly linked to how much tumor the surgeon can safely remove. Even small amounts of remaining cancer grow back. A probe that shows tumor boundaries helps surgeons remove more cancer while protecting critical brain areas.

Read the original research

IRDye800CW labeled uPAR-targeting peptide for fluorescence-guided glioblastoma surgery: Preclinical studies in orthotopic xenografts.

Theranostics, 11(15), 7159-7174

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Kurbegovic, Sorel; Juhl, Karina; Sørensen, Kasper Kildegaard; Leth, Julie; Willemoe, Gro Linno; Christensen, Anders; Adams, Yvonne; Jensen, Anja Ramstedt; von Buchwald, Christian; Skjøth-Rasmussen, Jane; Ploug, Michael; Jensen, Knud J; Kjaer, Andreas. (2021). IRDye800CW labeled uPAR-targeting peptide for fluorescence-guided glioblastoma surgery: Preclinical studies in orthotopic xenografts.. Theranostics, 11(15), 7159-7174. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.49787