Infrared Lymphangiography as a Method of Sentinel Node Identification

NCT ID: NCT02057393

Last Updated: 2017-07-06

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 89 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2014-06-30
• Study Completion Date: 2016-02-29

Brief Summary

The initial treatment for most people with melanoma involves wide excision of the skin and sentinel node biopsy. As with other cancers, the status of the sentinel node provides important prognostic information to the patient and physician. Sentinel node biopsy was first developed using only a blue dye. Technetium99, a radioactive protein, was added later and provides the ability to image the patient and identify relevant lymph node basins. For the last 15 years or so, the standard method of SLN localization includes both tech99 and blue dye. While the rates of localization overall are excellent, these methods each have drawbacks. We are investigating a new method of finding sentinel nodes that uses a green dye that has an infrared signal. Our hypothesis is that indocyanine green (ICG) and real time lymphangiography is equivalent to technetium99 and methylene blue in identifying sentinel nodes (SLN) in patients with melanoma.

Detailed Description

Patients with melanoma of the trunk or extremities were prospectively enrolled in this trial. Patients with head and neck melanoma were excluded from this study based on our pilot experience. ICG is poorly visualized through muscle, and there seems to be high background uptake in the parotid gland; both of these features limit the utility of ICG and fluorescence imaging. All subjects had T1b or greater melanoma, and met current National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for sentinel node biopsy. All subjects had injection of tech99 and lymphangiography prior to surgery, and injection of indocyanine green (ICG) and methylene blue dye (MB) in the operating room. We utilized methylene blue dye for all subjects due to poor availability of isosulfan blue for a period of time, and to maintain consistency in the trial. Up to 1ml of MB was injected, and 0.9ml ICG (2.5 mg/ml). The ICG and MB were injected into the dermis separately, after induction of anesthesia and prior to prepping the patient.

Each lymph node basin was examined with the gamma probe and imaged with the SPY Elite (Novadaq) prior to making skin incision, with assessment of the visibility of ICG through the skin (yes or no). Once incision was made, the basin was periodically imaged with SPY, or dissection was carried out with real time lymphangiography until the sentinel node was identified. The camera of the SPY machine is positioned over the basin, with the image projected onto a monitor. Similar to laparoscopy, the surgeon can watch the image and operate at the same time. Each sentinel node was assessed for the presence of each dye. A lymph node with any one of the dyes present was considered a sentinel node, and was resected. Fluorescence and blue dye were measured as yes or no, and not quantitated. Additional data collected includes demographic data, the dose of ICG and MB given, adverse effects from any dye, the total number of sentinel nodes identified and the number of malignant sentinel nodes. Pair-wise comparisons were made between the three dyes regarding the number of detected sentinel nodes, and the number of detected metastatic nodes.

Conditions

Melanoma; Sentinel Node

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Indocyanine Green

Single arm study, each subject receives 0.9ml ICG, methylene blue and technetium 99.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Indocyanine green

Intervention Type: DRUG

Subjects receive 0.9ml of ICG subcutaneously about the primary melanoma. The ICG has an infrared signal that is detected with the SPY Elite system (Lifecell). The ICG travels through the lymphatics to the sentinel node.

Technetium99

Intervention Type: DRUG

Technetium99 is a standard, widely used radiopharmaceutical that is injected subcutaneoulsy about the primary melanoma site. Lymphoscintigraphy is performed to identify the draining nodal basin, and a gamma probe is used in the operating room to track the radioactive signal and find the sentinel node.

Methylene blue

Intervention Type: DRUG

Subjects receive 0.5-2ml of methylene blue subcutaneously about the primary melanoma at the time of surgery. The sentinel node should turn blue, which is visible with the naked eye.

Interventions

Indocyanine green

Subjects receive 0.9ml of ICG subcutaneously about the primary melanoma. The ICG has an infrared signal that is detected with the SPY Elite system (Lifecell). The ICG travels through the lymphatics to the sentinel node.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Technetium99

Technetium99 is a standard, widely used radiopharmaceutical that is injected subcutaneoulsy about the primary melanoma site. Lymphoscintigraphy is performed to identify the draining nodal basin, and a gamma probe is used in the operating room to track the radioactive signal and find the sentinel node.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Methylene blue

Subjects receive 0.5-2ml of methylene blue subcutaneously about the primary melanoma at the time of surgery. The sentinel node should turn blue, which is visible with the naked eye.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

IC-Green; Technetium99 sulfur colloid

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed melanoma.
• All patients with melanoma of the arm, leg or trunk who qualify for a sentinel node biopsy based on the characteristics of their primary tumor are eligible to participate. Patients with melanoma that is T1b or greater are recommended to have a sentinel node biopsy.
• Age >18 years. Melanoma is extremely uncommon in children, this disease is not relevant in this age group.
• The effects of IC-Green on the developing human fetus at the recommended therapeutic dose are unknown. For this reason women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, the patient should inform the treating physician immediately.
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients with melanoma on the head or neck are excluded
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to IC-Green, sodium iodide or other agents used in the study.
• Pregnant women are excluded from this study

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Colette Pameijer

Associate Professor of Surgery

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Colette Pameijer, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Associate Professor of Surgery

Locations

Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

Countries

United States

References

Jain V, Phillips BT, Conkling N, Pameijer C. Sentinel lymph node detection using laser-assisted indocyanine green dye lymphangiography in patients with melanoma. Int J Surg Oncol. 2013;2013:904214. doi: 10.1155/2013/904214. Epub 2013 Dec 8.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 24382997 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

247374

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id