Original Article
Gold nanorods reflectance discriminate benign from malignant oral lesions

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2017.01.003Get rights and content

Abstract

Nanoparticle-based contrast agents have been used as an imaging tool for selectively detecting cancerous processes. We aimed to evaluate the detection sensitivity of reflection measurements of gold nanorods (GNRs) bio-conjugated to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (GNRs-EGFR) monoclonal antibodies in discriminating benign from premalignant and malignant human oral lesions. Tissue sections incubated with GNRs-EGFR and the reflectance spectrum was measured using hyperspectral microscopy. Reflectance intensity increased with the progression of the disease, lowest in the control group and increasing as the dysplastic changes increase (P < 0.001 for linear trend of grade). Intensity was significantly higher in the moderate and severe dysplasias and cancer patients than in the controls and mild dysplasia (t test P = 0.0003, Mann–Whitney P < 0.0001). The GNRs reflection measurements can discriminate benign and mild dysplastic lesions from the more severe dysplasia and invasive cancer, suggesting an objective, not dependent on the qualification of a technician and with less interpretation errors.

Graphical Abstract

Tissue sections of oral squamous cell carcinoma incubated with gold nanorods bio-conjugated to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies and the reflectance spectrum measured using hyperspectral microscopy. Tissue sample is Halogen illuminated and the reflected light detected from its surface. The hyperspectral camera enables spectrum analyses of each pixel on the tissue picture.

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Section snippets

Methods

The archives of the Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine School of Dental Medicine, Tel-Aviv University were searched for cases diagnosed as OSCC and various dysplastic lesions. The study has been reviewed and approved by the Tel-Aviv University Ethics Committee; all cases were anonymous and informed consent was not required. The cases were divided according to histopathologic diagnosis based on the WHO diagnostic criteria as followed: mild dysplasia, moderate dysplasia, severe dysplasia,

Results

The study group included 30 cases, 16 women and 14 men, with mean age of 64.5 (SD = 17.12). Table 1 summarizes the clinical and histopathologic data; five cases were selected as controls, 15 cases of various dysplastic lesions and 10 cases of OSCC.

For each case, between 1 and 6 reflectance measurements were recorded. Table 1, Table 2, Table 3 and Figures 3 and 4 represent the reflectance measurements at the highest intensity as well as the average intensity for each case. The graphs in Figures 3

Discussion

The results of the present study clearly demonstrate the power of the direct GNRs-EGFR reflectance measurements as a novel method in identifying carcinomatous changes in human oral tissue sections. Intensity, highest and average, increases with the progression of the disease with clear distinction between benign and mild dysplasia and the higher degrees of dysplasia and invasive cancer.

Oral cancer is a multi-step process and therefore, early identification of carcinomatous changes is of

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  • Cited by (0)

    This study was supported by the Israel Cancer Association, with the generous assistance of the Irma and Jacques Ber-Lehmsdorf Foundation (grant No. 20150012); and the ISRAEL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (grant No. 1760/16).

    Conflict of interest statements: None declared.

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