Tissue autofluorescence as an intermediate endpoint in NMBA-induced esophageal carcinogenesis.
The capacity to identify subclinical neoplastic disease of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) using tissue auto-fluorescent spectroscopy would significantly contribute to cancer screening. Rats received N-nitrosomethyl benzylamine (NMBA), a carcinogen shown to cause esophageal malignancies. Following sacrifice at early weekly intervals, gross assessment of esophageal mucosa of NMBA-exposed rats was indistinguishable from saline-treated controls. Histopathologic evaluation, however, revealed NMBA-induced preneoplastic changes in the epithelium. Concurrent with these changes, the NMBA-exposed rats demonstrated specific alterations in autofluorescence. These results demonstrate that NMBA-induced esophageal premalignancy can be distinguished by autofluorescent properties. The capacity to detect alterations in autofluorescence may allow more sensitive screening of UADT mucosa at risk for cancer development.
Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021.
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R
Glasgold
M
M
Glasgold
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H
Savage
J
J
Pinto
R
R
Alfano
S
S
Schantz
D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005453:Fluorescence; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
D002273:Carcinogens; C014707:nitrosobenzylmethylamine; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine