Assessment of Breast Cancer Mechanopathology Markers Using Ultrasound
Abstract
We propose to develop new methods for imaging properties of cancers that are related to their stiffness, fluid content, and mobility. These properties can provide us with new, safe, and fast ways to evaluate the aggressiveness of cancers as well as the likely outcome of a cancer treatment. Currently, no other existing imaging modality can be used to obtain accurate visualization and measurements of these properties in cancers. The development of the proposed imaging methods can provide a means to better understand the fundamental role that mechanical parameters have in driving breast cancer growth, invasion, and metastasis and can be used to identify new methods that may be able to prevent these processes to occur. In the future, these methods can also help us designing, guiding, and monitoring treatments that can deliver effective and personalized care. The proposed imaging methods are based on the use of ultrasound, a medical imaging modality that is usually used for checking fetus in expecting mothers. The acquisition of ultrasound signals from the tissue area of interest is typically very fast and does not require anesthesia or sedation. Then, sophisticated software techniques are used to obtain images and measurements of the tumor that are related to its level of aggressiveness. The same software allows us to carefully monitor any changes occurring in these parameters before, during and after treatments. Therefore, the information obtained using these new imaging methods can be of great help to a physician for accurate prognosis of cancers and for the choice of a suitable treatment regime. In general, the proposed ultrasound imaging methods have several advantages with respect to other imaging methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging, optics or X-ray imaging. First of all, they are safe and do not require harmful radiations or imaging contrast. This makes them ideal for frequent examinations. Secondly, they are fast (acquisition takes only a few seconds) and cheap compared to other imaging methods. Finally, they can be used with small portable devices, such as devices of the size of a computer or a phone. Therefore, they may be used in remote locations, in field operations, in a spacecraft, and in operating rooms before or during surgeries. The proposed technologies can be of great benefit to breast cancer patients because they can provide new, highly sensitive parameters that can help us guiding the choice of a treatment regime. They can also provide frequent feedback that can be used to potentially adjust or change a treatment. If used in conjunction with targeted delivery therapies, these technologies can, in the future, lead to more effective, less toxic treatments, and positively impact the quality of life of breast cancer patients. Thanks to their portability and low costs, the proposed ultrasound imaging methods could be used to examine patients in developing countries, and the images could be easily sent to specialized physicians over the internet or the phone. In the future, with few modifications, it should be possible to apply these new ultrasound imaging techniques to diagnose and assess other diseases, such as other types of cancers and lymphedema. Lymphedema is a poorly understood and relatively underestimated late effect of cancer treatment, which significantly affects function and quality of life. It is estimated that 3-5 million patients in the U.S. have lymphedema secondary to cancer metastasis or treatment and 300 million suffer worldwide. As of today, treatments for lymphedema are palliative, primarily due to delayed diagnosis based solely on physical examination. Current imaging techniques are invasive and expensive, limiting widespread use in this high-risk population. The development of the proposed technologies could provide a sensitive, non-invasive, and cost-effective imaging system that could significantly aid detection, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 29, 2018
- Source ID
- W81XWH1810544
Entities
People
- Raffaella Righetti
Organizations
- Texas Engineering Experiment Station
- United States Army