Imaging Tumor Microenvironment with Ultrasound

Abstract. Recent advances in molecular biology are providing new opportunities for breast cancer imaging. Our approach uses ultrasound to image viscoelastic features of tumors. These features describe microenvironmental factors that stimulate signaling pathways in tumors that ultimately affect metastatic potential and response to traditional therapeutics. This paper explains the motivation for the approach, describes measurements in phantoms and patients, and defines measurement sensitivity using hydrogels with tissue-like features. 1 Viscoelastic Imaging of the Tumor Microenvironment Cancer cells communicate locally with other cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) using molecular signals. Communication is essential if a cancerous tumor is to grow and metastasize [Ele01]. Molecular signaling controls many facets of tumor progression related to outcome including growth rate, degree of invasiveness, and metastatic potential. Signals are generated in response to the tissue microenvir...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2005
• Where: IPMI
• Authors: Mallika Sridhar, Michael F. Insana
• Keywords: Cancer Imaging, IPMI 2005, Medical Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Tumor