uPAR – the foundation of FluoGuide’s technology platform

All of FluoGuide’s products are based on the existence of uPAR (urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor), a protein present on the surface of cancer cells that directly correlates to the aggressiveness of the cancer. The company’s knowledge of uPAR in combination with FluoGuide’s development activity and the accompanying intellectual property protection have made it possible to build a unique company committed to transforming surgical oncology for the benefit of cancer patients.

uPAR is part of what is known as the proteolytic system in the human body, and across all products and applications, FluoGuide utilizes the fact that cancer cells extensively express uPAR, as FluoGuide holds the rights to a proprietary compound made of a cancer-targeting molecule linked to a fluorophore, and this compound binds to uPAR, which is extensively expressed on the surface of most types of solid cancers.

uPAR is extensively expressed on the front of the cancer

uPAR is expressed extracellularly in most types of solid malignancies such as cancer of the breast, prostate, brain and head and neck. It correlates with malignant progression, invasion, and metastasis. The uPAR system is not only an indicator or epiphenomenon but is directly involved in cancer invasion/metastatic processes.

The study of uPAR in general within the academic scientific research community has a very long history, and the specific study of how uPAR is related to the growth of cancerous tumors has been documented throughout decades of research in a large number of peer-reviewed articles.

FluoGuide’s preclinical and clinical data have confirmed this existing body of knowledge regarding the relationship between cancer and uPAR. The interim data from FluoGuide’s FG001 clinical trial in high grade glioma has exhibited a tumor-sp¬ecific expression pattern with low expression in normal tissues outside the tumor compartment. Furthermore, uPAR appears to be expressed at the highest level at the invasive front of the cancer, making it particularly suitable for delineating the tumor and obtaining negative resection margins, creating a basis for minimally invasive surgery.

FluoGuide is built on a high level of expertise within the science field related to uPAR due to the fact that founder Andreas Kjaer has researched for many years in uPAR, imaging, and cancer at the University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet in Denmark.

FluoGuide’s IP portfolio

FluoGuide’s development activities are based on a high level of technological innovation. Consequently, FluoGuide is building a strong and still growing patent portfolio in the space of uPAR, imaging, and surgical oncology. The company is working with leading IP law advisers to secure the optimal IP protection of the company’s¬ intellectual assets.

FluoGuide introduction video

In this introduction video, you can see how our knowledge of uPAR is applied to create fluorescent guidance for surgical oncologists: