EpCAM-Targeted Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Nanotags for Rapid Evaluation of Surgical Margins and Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis Status in Breast Cancers

Yunnan Cancer Hospital

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Sentinel Lymph Node; Metastases; Breast Cancers; Margin Assessment

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: SERS detection

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07018505

KYLX2025-149

Details and patient eligibility

About

For early breast cancer patients, breast-conserving surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy have emerged as the cornerstone of precision oncology, harmonizing oncologic efficacy with the preservation of breast cosmetics and axillary function. However, conventional margin evaluation relies on subjective experience, leading to positive margin rates of 15%-50% Additionally, sentinel lymph node biopsy faces inherent technical limitations, including prolonged procedural time and significant false-negative rates in detecting micro-metastases. To overcome these challenges, the investigators will introduce a stable "sandwich" EpCAM-targeted surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection system to provide rapid evaluation of surgical margins and sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis status. In brief, a portion of resected tissue will be immediately homogenized by grinding, and the tissue homogenate will then be analyzed using this detection system to determine its histological characteristics. Pathological confirmation will further validate the method. This approach aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of intraoperative assessment of breast-conserving surgical margins and SLN status, thereby effectively reducing local recurrence rates and complications.

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adult patients between 18-75 years of age
• Female
• Patients presenting with a breast cancer to be resectable on pre-operative assessment
• Good operative candidate
• Subject capable of giving informed consent and participating in the process of consent

Exclusion criteria

• Patients unable to participate in the consent process
• Patients had contraindications to surgery, such as serious cardiopulmonary disease, coagulation dysfunction, etc
• Other conditions that the researcher considers inappropriate to participate in the study

Trial design

40 participants in 1 patient group

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) Detection

Description:

Intraoperatively, approximately 5 mm samples of tumor and adjacent normal tissues are collected from breast cancer patients after resection. After lymph nodes dissection, the tissues are bisected longitudinally along the maximum cross-section. The collected tissues are then divided into two portions. One portion is weighed, and tissue lysis buffer (RIPA:PIC:PMSF = 100:1:1) is added at a ratio of 5 μL per 1 mg tissue. The tissue is minced into 1 mm fragments on ice, and 3 mm zirconium beads are added for homogenization based on tissue weight. The homogenate is centrifuged at 12,000 g for 2 min at 4°C. The supernatant (50 μL) is collected for detection, and the remaining tissue is reserved for pathological evaluation.

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: SERS detection