Colleen Abbott Undergoes Ovarian Cancer Surgery Using Cytalux

CYTALUX Ovarian Cancer Imaging Drug Deployed at Inova Schar Cancer

Colleen Abbott, a 60-year-old resident of Gaithersburg, became the first local person to undergo surgery using the FDA-approved imaging drug CYTALUX. Administered as a preoperative infusion, the optical imaging agent causes malignant cells to fluoresce in the operating room, providing surgeons with a real-time visual guide to distinguish between healthy and diseased tissue.

Abbott sought medical evaluation after experiencing pelvic pressure, leading to diagnostic tests that uncovered advanced disease. Following a hysterectomy that revealed widespread abdominal tumors originating in a fallopian tube, Abbott completed six rounds of chemotherapy before undergoing the targeted procedure at Inova Schar Cancer. Dr. Leslie Randall, director of gynecologic oncology at the facility, stated that the technology addresses visibility challenges commonly encountered after chemotherapy, when viable tumors remain difficult to identify with the naked eye.

Clinical Efficacy and Surgical Precision

During clinical evaluations, CYTALUX assisted surgical teams in locating residual malignant tissue that otherwise would have escaped detection in nearly 30 percent of patients. Dr. Randall emphasized the high stakes of the procedure, noting that primary surgeries for ovarian cancer occur infrequently over the course of the disease and must remove as much malignant mass as possible. While the fluorescent dye highlights target cells, clinicians must maintain careful judgment because certain reactive lymph nodes also absorb the compound without containing active malignancy.

Ovarian cancer remains the deadliest gynecologic malignancy in the United States, accounting for more than 12,000 deaths annually, largely due to late-stage diagnoses driven by vague early symptoms and the absence of routine screening tests for average-risk individuals. Following her procedure, Abbott confirmed she is currently in remission.

Common Questions About Ovarian Cancer Imaging

How is CYTALUX administered before surgery?

Medical staff administer the FDA-approved drug as an intravenous infusion prior to the start of the operation, allowing the compound to target and illuminate cancer cells under specialized lighting in the operating room.

What side effects are associated with the imaging agent?

Patients have reported minor adverse effects such as nausea following the infusion, though clinical teams manage these symptoms with standard medications, and most individuals tolerate the treatment well.

Which healthcare facilities currently offer this technology?

Inova Schar Cancer serves as the first health system in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region to incorporate the CYTALUX imaging drug into surgical treatments for ovarian cancer patients.

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