Cyanine-containing compounds for cancer imaging and treatment

A method of imaging cancer cells, wherein the method comprises introducing to the cancer cells an imaging amount of a compound of the formula shown below

• wherein each of R5 is H;
• and
• wherein the R substituents are the same, or are not the same;
• and
• wherein the R substituents are independently selected from the group consisting of:
• (CH2)3COOH, or an ester or amide thereof, (CH2)4COOH, or an ester or amide thereof, (CH2)5COOH, or an ester or amide thereof, (CH2)6COOH, or an ester or amide thereof, (CH2)7COOH, or an ester or amide thereof, (CH2)8COOH, or an ester or amide thereof, (CH2)9COOH, or an ester or amide thereof, (CH2)3SO3H, (CH2)4SO3H, (CH2)5SO3H, (CH2)6SO3H, (CH2)7SO3H, (CH2)8SO3H, and CH2)9SO3H;
• exposing the cancer cells to electromagnetic radiation;
• and
• detecting light emission from the compound;
• and
• wherein the compound is introduced to one or more cancer cells without a targeting agent;
• and
• wherein the amide of the R substituent is not tagged with a radioactive group;
• and
• wherein if the compound is used in combination with a therapeutic agent or radioactive agent, the agent is co-administered with the compound simultaneously or sequentially, and is not linked to the compound.