Development of new diagnostic method for chest malignant lesions and lymph node metastasis using photodynamic method

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K10251
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Respiratory surgery
• Research Institution: Asahikawa Medical College
• Principal Investigator: Kitada Nasahiro 旭川医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (60332483)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大崎 能伸 旭川医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (30191935) ; 佐々木 高明 旭川医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (70516997)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 胸部悪性腫瘍 / 肺癌 / 胸膜腫瘍 / 光線力学的診断 / アミノレブリン酸

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have developed a new diagnostic method using the photosensitizer 5-aminolevulinic acid (5ALA) for diagnosing intrathoracic malignant lesions. When ingested exogenously, 5ALA is metabolized to a heme precursor, protoporphyrin IX, which stays in malignant cells and emits red to pink luminescence of about 630 nm. Malignant lesions on the pleural surface emitted pink autofluorescence in contrast to the green autofluorescence of the surrounding normal tissues observed by an autofluorescence imaging system. When 28 patients with primary lung cancer were examined according to the degree of pleural infiltration (pl), red fluorescence was confirmed in 100% with p11-p13 and　27.7%　with p10. The latter 5 patients had been diagnosed with PL1 preoperatively or intraoperatively. This system achieved accurate localization of malignant lesions, suggesting that it may also be applicable to photodynamic therapy.

Free Research Field

胸部外科学