Fluorescence lifetime imaging using endogenous fluorophores: the prospects for tumor diagnosis and prognosis

Le résumé fourni par la source

Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) is a powerful tool for investigating the molecular microenvironment of fluorophores within living cells and tissues. One of its most prominent applications is in metabolic imaging, based on the autofluorescence of the dehydrogenase cofactors NAD(P)H and FAD. Our research is centered on tumor cell metabolism, key features of which include the Warburg effect, metabolic plasticity, and considerable intra- and intertumoral heterogeneity. The technique's label-free basis, quantitative output, and non-invasive image acquisition make metabolic FLIM highly suitable for clinical translation. Through investigations employing in vitro cell models, in vivo mouse tumors, and postoperative patient samples, we have assessed the diagnostic and prognostic potential of FLIM. Our results show that macroscopic FLIM can identify breast cancer metastases in sentinel lymph nodes and distinguish gliomas from the brain's white matter. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that FLIM can effectively visualize and quantify metabolic heterogeneity at the cellular level. Consistent with expectations, patient-derived tumors exhibited greater metabolic heterogeneity than standard cell lines or xenografts, an observation confirmed in colorectal and breast cancers. Overall, these results yield critical insights into the distinct metabolic features of tumors.

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