Surgical Innovation: Inova Introduces Ovarian Cancer Imaging Agent

In clinical trials, the imaging agent CYTALUX enabled surgeons to detect additional cancerous tissue that might otherwise have been missed in nearly 30% of patients. This new visual capability is now available locally, marking a shift in how gynecologic oncologists approach the definitive surgery for ovarian cancer.

Colleen Abbott, a 60-year-old resident of Gaithersburg, was diagnosed with the disease in February. Her symptoms began as pressure in her pelvic area, which she attributed to general discomfort. After a series of diagnostic tests, physicians discovered that the cancer had originated in a fallopian tube and spread throughout her abdomen. Abbott became the first patient in the local area to undergo surgery using the new technology.

The procedure involves administering CYTALUX as an infusion prior to the operation. The drug causes cancer cells to fluoresce, allowing the surgical team to distinguish viable tumor tissue from healthy tissue in real time. Dr. Leslie Randall, director of Gynecologic Oncology at Inova Schar Cancer, explained that this distinction is particularly valuable following chemotherapy, when treated tissue can appear similar to healthy tissue to the naked eye.

Randall noted that while the dye highlights areas of interest, it does not confirm malignancy on its own. Surgeons must still evaluate the tissue, as some lymph nodes may glow without containing cancer. The tool serves as a guide rather than a definitive diagnostic marker, requiring the physician’s judgment to determine what to remove.

Ovarian cancer remains the deadliest gynecologic malignancy in the United States, claiming more than 12,000 lives annually. The disease is often detected at an advanced stage because symptoms are vague and no routine screening test exists for women at average risk. Because surgeons typically perform only one major resection during the course of the disease, maximizing the amount of cancer removed in that single operation is a primary goal.

Inova is the first health system in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region to utilize CYTALUX for these procedures. Abbott has completed six rounds of chemotherapy and surgery and is currently in remission. She credited the technology with helping her medical team remove all visible disease, noting that the additional time gained allows more women to spend time with their families.

Some patients reported minor side effects from the drug, including nausea. Medical staff stated that these reactions are manageable with standard medication and that most patients tolerate the infusion well. The integration of this tool into standard surgical practice represents a new standard for visualizing ovarian cancer in the operating room.