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Dr. Bouvet pointing at screen.

How Flourescent-Guided Surgery is Advancing Cancer Treatment

Michael Bouvet, MD, is shaping the future of cancer care through his leadership and teaching.

Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health isn’t just treating cancer but also transforming how cancer is treated. Leading the way in surgical innovation is Michael Bouvet, MD, director of endocrine surgery and co-director of the Center for Fluorescence-Guided Surgery at UC San Diego Health. Bouvet’s expertise spans complex surgeries for thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal and pancreatic cancers, and he is known for his ability to push beyond the conventional.

Bouvet’s groundbreaking work in fluorescence- guided surgery is a game changer. Pioneered here at UC San Diego Health, this leading-edge technique was created by Quyen Nguyen, MD, PhD, using green fluorescent protein, which Roger Tsein, PhD, won the Nobel Prize for developing. By injecting contrast agents or targeted imaging probes into the bloodstream of patients just before surgery, surgeons can then see tumors in real time using near-infrared imaging to illuminate cancerous cells. By making tumors more visible, this innovative approach improves surgical outcomes and ensures patients receive the most precise care possible. 

“Some of these findings are now being translated from the bench to the bedside, allowing us to make cancer surgery safer for patients,” Bouvet shares. This commitment to innovation is exemplified by two notable clinical trials currently underway at UC San Diego. 

The first trial is exploring the use of a tumor-specific probe, SGM-101, for colorectal cancer. This novel probe helps surgeons visualize tumor margins more clearly, leading to more complete resections. The trial is being led by Shanglei (Shawn) Lui, assistant professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine and colorectal surgeon at UC San Diego Health. 

The second trial investigates ALM-488, an agent designed to illuminate nerves during thyroid surgery. Led by Bouvet, this study aims to prevent injuries to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, enhancing surgical outcomes and patient safety. Beyond the operating room and lab, Bouvet is shaping the future of cancer care through his leadership and teaching. As a professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine, he’s training the next generation of surgeons to ask bold questions and push the boundaries of what’s possible. 

Bouvet’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. This year, he secured a prestigious $1.2 million VA Merit Review Grant for a project aimed at enhancing the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer. This grant adds to his impressive roster of ongoing research, including two National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 grants, two other VA Merit Reviews, a T32 training grant and an American Cancer Society grant. His leadership and vision drive transformative discoveries, making the future of cancer treatment brighter and more hopeful.