Membrane dual-targeting probes:A promising strategy for fluorescence-guided prostate cancer surgery and lymph node metastases detection

Fluorescence-guided surgery(FGS)with tumor-targeted imaging agents,particularly those using the near-infrared wavelength,has emerged as a real-time technique to highlight the tumor location and margins during a surgical procedure.For accurate visualization of prostate cancer(PCa)boundary and lymphatic metastasis,we developed a new approach involving an efficient self-quenched near-infrared fluorescence probe,Cy-KUE-OA,with dual PCa-membrane affinity.Cy-KUE-OA specifically targeted the prostate-specific membrane antigen(PSMA),anchored into the phospholipids of the cell membrane of PCa cells and consequently showed a strong Cy7-de-quenching effect.This dual–membrane-targeting probe allowed us to detect PSMA-expressing PCa cells both in vitro and in vivo and enabled clear visualization of the tumor boundary during fluorescence-guided laparoscopic surgery in PCa mouse models.Furthermore,the high PCa preference of Cy-KUE-OA was confirmed on surgically resected patient specimens of healthy tissues,PCa,and lymph node metastases.Taken together,our results serve as a bridge between preclinical and clinical research in FGS of PCa and lay a solid foundation for further clinical research.