James M. Olson, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon-Sohn Pediatric Cancer Fellowship Award Committee Member, Clinical Investigator ‘02-‘07), of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and the University of Washington, Seattle, developed “Tumor Paint” (BLZ-100) to allow surgeons to better see the tumor margins with high resolution in real time during surgery. This can aid surgeons in removing all of the cancerous tissue while sparing normal cells. A wide range of preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential of this technology. The FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation to the compound. BLZ-100 is currently being tested in Phase I clinical trials for children’s brain cancers, adult gliomas, adult sarcoma, and various solid tumors, including breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer.
