UT San Antonio develops an experimental fluorescent probe for breast cancer surgery
Published in Drugs development & discovery, Scanners and Imaging, Tools.
October 8, 2026 — UT San Antonio reported new support for an experimental molecular probe intended to help surgeons distinguish triple-negative breast cancer tissue from healthy tissue.
Syed Muhammad Usama’s laboratory is developing c-Cy7-pal, which combines the CDK4/6-binding drug palbociclib with a near-infrared fluorogenic dye. The design targets intracellular proteins rather than relying on the estrogen, progesterone or HER2 receptors absent in triple-negative breast cancer.
According to the university, changes in the local chemical environment allow the probe to switch from a dark state to a fluorescent state after binding its target. The aim is to reduce background signal and make tumour boundaries easier to visualize.
A US$450,000 award from the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund will support development toward translational models.
This is a research and funding update. The announcement does not establish improved surgical outcomes in patients or approval of the combined imaging probe. Palbociclib’s existing drug approval should not be confused with authorization for c-Cy7-pal; clinical safety and performance would require separate evaluation.
Source: UT San Antonio research announcement, October 8, 2026.