Abstract
BACKGROUND
Fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) is under investigation as a means to improve the extent of resection for primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Tozuleristide, known also as “Tumor Paint,” is an investigational tumor-targeting agent covalently conjugated to a derivative of the fluorescent dye indocyanine green.
OBJECTIVE
To report the finding of avid intraoperative fluorescence of tozuleristide on cerebral vascular malformations.
METHODS
Our institution is participating in a phase 2/3 study of intraoperative near-infrared fluorescence detection of pediatric primary CNS tumors in patients receiving intravenous tozuleristide and imaged with the Canvas system. Our site enrolled 2 patients with intracranial lesions, suspected preoperatively of possibly being gliomas that proved to be cavernous vascular malformations after resection.
RESULTS
Each lesion had a dark blue mulberry appearance and each fluoresced avidly with tozuleristide. Each was completely resected, and the patients recovered without deficit. Pathological assessment showed cavernous angioma for both cases. Tozuleristide fluorescence is postulated to result from binding to matrix metalloproteinase-2 and annexin A2, and literature review demonstrates expression of both these ligands on multiple cerebrovascular lesions, including cavernous malformations.
CONCLUSION
This finding deserves further investigation to determine if tozuleristide “Tumor Paint” may have a wider role in the identification of non-neoplastic intracranial pathologies.
Inside Front Cover: Exploiting molecular probes to perform near‐infrared fluorescence‐guided surgery (View 4/2020)
