Endoscopic detection of murine colonic dysplasia using a novel fluorescence-labeled peptide

Current endoscopic screening does not detect all pre-malignant (dysplastic) colorectal mucosa, thus requiring the development of more sensitive, targeted techniques to improve detection. The presented work utilizes phage display to identify a novel peptide binder to colorectal dysplasia in a CPC; Apc mouse model. A wide-field, small animal endoscope capable of fluorescence excitation (450-475 nm) identified polyps via white light and also collected fluorescence images (510 nm barrier filter) of peptide binding. The peptide bound similar to 2-fold greater to the colonic adenomas when compared to the control peptide. We have imaged fluorescence-labeled peptide binding in vivo that is specific towards distal colonic adenomas.