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Soo Park, MD
Soo Park, MD
Posted: Wednesday, August 27, 2025
A PARP1 inhibitor–targeted fluorescent contrast agent (PARPi-FL) demonstrated preclinical safety and translational potential for topical use in the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma, based on a study published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. However, according to Manu Jain, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, its diagnostic accuracy and safety in humans require clinical trial validation.
The investigators evaluated the optimal dose, application time, and diagnostic performance of PARPi-FL in ex vivo human tissues. Preclinical species were used to assess the feasibility of topical application of this agent with gauze and real-time fluorescence confocal microscopy imaging, as well as its toxicity profile, all in vivo.
Overexpression of PARP1 was seen in basal cell carcinoma vs nonmalignant lesions. PARPi-FL was found to penetrate intact human skin and labeled dermal structures within 2 to 5 minutes. The investigators detected a “strong” fluorescent signal from basal cell carcinoma lesions through the skin surface, reaching a depth of approximately 100 µm, after 5 minutes; benign lesions showed lower and more variable signals. Using gauze to apply PARPi-FL appeared to be effective, with detectable signals in tumor-bearing mice. An increased concentration and reduced application time seemed to enhance the nuclear fluorescent signal. The investigators observed no serious toxicities in preclinical species.
“Incorporating this targeted dye into in vivo imaging could significantly improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce unnecessary biopsies of benign lesions, and enable timely, noninvasive treatment for basal cell carcinoma,” concluded Dr. Jain, in a press release from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. “Importantly, since PARP1 is also overexpressed in melanoma, these results support the feasibility of extending this approach to melanoma, offering a promising tool for distinguishing malignant from benign pigmented lesions without biopsy.”
Disclosure: Dr. Jain reported no relevant conflicts of interest. For full disclosures of the other authors, visit jnm.snmjournals.org.
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