Complementary Strengths: What PET Imaging Can Teach Us About Optimizing Optical Approaches for Cancer Imaging

Thursday, October 9, 2025

1:30 PM - 1:50 PM EDT

Location: Meeting Room #7

Presenting Author(s)

FN

Fay Nicolson, PhD

Research Fellow
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Non-Presenting Author(s)

AC

Ashley Chang

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
YC

Ye Chenwen

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
WS

William H. Skinner

Postdoc
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
AR

Andria Rakotomalala-Andrianasolo

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts, United States

In fifteen words or less, explain the significance of this contribution (Novel Aspect).: Discussion around PET imaging principles to guide development of clinically translatable deep-tissue optical cancer imaging

Abstract Text:

Deep optical imaging of tumors is limited by shallow in vivo penetration depth. This work presents SESORS, an approach that integrates spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoparticles for non-invasive optical imaging of deep tumors. Instrumentation enhancements improve signal-to-noise ratio, spatial resolution, and acquisition speed, enabling more effective tumor detection and complementing conventional radiologic methods. We will also discuss the design of molecularly specific contrast agents for optical and PET/CT imaging, along with theranostic strategies to leverage imaging for real-time surgical navigation, longitudinal tumor monitoring, and patient selection.