Definition

A fluorescence imaging agent and an immunoconjugate comprised of a glypican 3 (GPC3)-targeting moiety conjugated to the near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye IRDye800CW, that can potentially be used for the imaging of GPC3-expressing tumor cells. Upon administration of the IRDye800CW-labeled GPC3-targeted agent, the GPC3-targeting moiety targets and binds to GPC3 expressed on tumor cells. Upon fluorescence imaging of the fluorophore IRDye800CW, the GPC3-expressing tumor cells can be visualized and detected. GPC3, a heparan sulfate proteoglycan and a member of the glypican family, is overexpressed on certain tumor cell types while minimally expressed on normal, healthy cells; GPC3 plays an important role in cellular proliferation and differentiation.