The Hasan Program Project
Molecular Response and Imaging-based Combination Strategies for Optimal PDT
Dr. Maytin visits Wellman Center of Photomedicine using cores to perform Hyperspectral Imaging on human skin cancer specimens
BOSTON -- As an example of the collaborative process that is important for the Program Project, Dr. Maytin and Christine Baran
(one of the medical students from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, a 5-year medical school (part of CASE
Western Reserve University) that specializes in training physician-investigators) flew to Boston and spent 3 days at the Wellman
Center of Photomedicine to perform Hyperspectral Imaging (one of the Core resources of the PPG) on human skin cancer specimens.
Christine's thesis project is an examination of the protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) in nonmelanoma skin cancers, as a function of the type
and depth of the tumor. After writing an IRB protocol that was approved by the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center IRB, Christine recruited
20 patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) from the dermatology clinics at the Cleveland Clinic.
These patients were scheduled for routine surgical excision of their skin cancer, but as part of the study, 5-ALA was applied to the
center of their tumors 2 h prior to surgery. Noninvasive PPIX dosimetry was performed prior to 5-ALA, and 2h after ALA application,
to document the production of PpIX in the tumor. Christine then took a 2 mm biopsy from the tumor, just before the surgeons proceded
with the definitive excision. BIopsy specimens were frozen and transported to Mass General Hospital, for analysis (on this visit)
by Nuance Hyperspectral Imaging (a technique far more sensitive than confocal microscopy of the frozen sections).
An important collaborator on the project is Dr. Sung Chang, of the Wellman Center, who supervised the calibration and acquistion of images. The data obtained is already showing that the PPIX accumulation varies with tumor type, and can be seen at considerable depths in some instances of nodular BCC, but not in others. This information will ultimately help in the rationale design of patient-individualization of PDT therapy of skin cancer.
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