Evaluation of Optical Imaging for Margin Delineation of Non-melanoma Skin Cancers

Trial Information

Evaluation of Optical Imaging for Margin Delineation of Non-melanoma Skin Cancers

All tissue and cells are made of tiny particles that give off small amounts of light. This
light is called fluorescence. Researchers have learned that cancerous cells and normal
cells give off different amounts and different types of fluorescence. Cancerous cells and
normal cells also reflect (bounce back) light differently. Researchers want to better
understand if light fluorescence and reflectance (a measure of the ability of a material to
reflect sunlight) from the skin can be used to tell which cells may be cancerous.

Researchers have developed the MDM system in order to better understand how cancer changes
the light fluorescence and reflectance in skin. The MDM system shines different colors of
light on the skin and takes pictures of fluorescence and reflectance on the skin area
through a microscope. The pictures will then be studied to better understand the
differences in fluorescence and reflectance in abnormal and normal cells.

If you agree to take part in this study, an area of your skin will first be examined under
standard white light. A researcher will then use the MDM imaging instrument to take
pictures of abnormal-looking and normal skin areas. The researcher will mark 2-4 areas of
your skin with a marker. During your surgery, you will have a small sample from a
normal-looking area collected and 1 or 2 samples collected, from abnormal-looking areas of
the skin. Each sample from abnormal-looking tissue will be about 3-4 millimeters wide
(about the size of a small pencil eraser).

After the skin lesion has been removed, but before it is needed for review by the
pathologist or surgeon, the removed tissue will be examined using the MDM imaging instrument
and standard white light. The edges of the removed lesion will then be examined with
another type of microscope, a confocal microscope, which allows researchers to see the very
small cells in the tissue. The exact location that was imaged with this microscope will be
marked on the tissue, and the findings will be recorded. The tissue will then be checked by
the pathologist according to standard procedures.

You will not be told of any of the experimental findings. Information about the diagnosis
will be available to your treating doctor.

Your name and any personal identifying information (such as your name, social security
number, or medical record number) will be coded to protect your privacy.

This is an investigational study. Up to 25 patients will take part in this study. All will
be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.