Fluorescence Visualization Detection of Field Alterations in Tumor Margins of Oral Cancer Patients

TLDR

Genetically altered cells can spread across the oral epithelium, often in clinically normal tissue, contributing to recurrence, and molecular and optical approaches are emerging to map such risk fields. This study aims to use fluorescence visualization to detect subclinical field changes around oral cancers during surgery. A handheld fluorescence device was employed intraoperatively to assess 122 biopsies from 20 specimens for fluorescence loss, histology, and loss of heterozygosity at key loci. All tumors exhibited fluorescence loss that extended 4–25 mm beyond the visible margin, with 32 of 36 affected biopsies showing dysplasia or carcinoma and a significant association of LOH at 3p/9p in 12 of 19 such biopsies, demonstrating that fluorescence visualization can identify high‑risk subclinical fields in the operating room.

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Genetically altered cells could become widespread across the epithelium of patients with oral cancer, often in clinically and histologically normal tissue, and contribute to recurrent disease. Molecular approaches have begun to yield information on cancer/risk fields; tissue optics could further extend our understanding of alteration to phenotype as a result of molecular change. Experimental Design: We used a simple hand-held device in the operating room to directly visualize subclinical field changes around oral cancers, documenting alteration to fluorescence. A total of 122 oral mucosa biopsies were obtained from 20 surgical specimens with each biopsy being assessed for location, fluorescence visualization (FV) status, histology, and loss of heterozygosity (LOH; 10 markers on three regions: 3p14, 9p21, and 17p13). Results: All tumors showed FV loss (FVL). For 19 of the 20 tumors, the loss extended in at least one direction beyond the clinically visible tumor, with the extension varying from 4 to 25 mm. Thirty-two of 36 FVL biopsies showed histologic change (including 7 squamous cell carcinoma/carcinomas in situ, 10 severe dysplasias, and 15 mild/moderate dysplasias) compared with 1 of the 66 FV retained (FVR) biopsies. Molecular analysis on margins with low-grade or no dysplasia showed a significant association of LOH in FVL biopsies, with LOH at 3p and/or 9p (previously associated with local tumor recurrence) present in 12 of 19 FVL biopsies compared with 3 of 13 FVR biopsies (P = 0.04). Conclusions: These data have, for the first time, shown that direct FV can identify subclinical high-risk fields with cancerous and precancerous changes in the operating room setting.