Breast Cancer Functional Imaging with Optics and MRI
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Drawbacks associated with the widespread use of screening x-ray mammography include high false-negative rates and low sensitivity for pre- and peri- menopausal women. Thus, researchers are actively developing alternative methods for earlier detection in this challenging population. What is needed are new methods that can provide more clinically useful information related to tissue functional changes associated with the appearance, progression, and treatment of breast cancer. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 This CBCRP-funded collaborative grant seeks to expand the advantages of previous work by Dr. Tromberg (partially supported by the CBCRP) to develop an optical detection-based Laser Breast Scanner (LBS) with the research of Dr. Hylton on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Dr. Tromberg's group at the University of California, Irvine is developing the optical technology of broadband Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy (DOS) as a non-invasive technique for breast tissue characterization. In previous work, it was demonstrated that the hand-held laser breast scanner (LBS), based on DOS technology, displayed sensitivity to tumors (malignant and benign) as well as hormonal status, HRT use, and chemotherapy. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The LBS utilizes intensity-modulated, near-infrared (NIR) light to quantitatively measure optical properties in thick tissues. Optical properties (i.e. absorption and scattering parameters) derived from LBS measurements are used to construct low-resolution (0.5 - 1 cm) functional maps of tissue hemoglobin (total, oxy-, and deoxy- forms), oxygen saturation, blood volume fraction, water content, fat content and cellular structure. Our interest in the current research is to find ways to make the "functional parameters" from optical imaging complementary to "high anatomic resolution images" derived from MRI. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 In preliminary translational studies supported by the CBCRP, it was possible to combine the LBS with the UCSF MRI and demonstrate optical/MRI tumor co-registration. Our hypothesis for the current project is that further development of a combined optical and MRI approach can dramatically improve detection, clinical management, and quality of life for breast cancer patients. Our specific aims are to: 1) Develop standardized instrumentation and techniques for co-registering optical and MRI scans and quantitatively characterizing breast tissue in human subjects; 2) Study the impact of menopausal status, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy on physiological properties in normal and high risk subjects; and 3) Develop "Tissue Optical Indices" (TOI) that report on functional parameters related to metabolism, angiogenesis, and cell/matrix density. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Measurements are performed using a non-invasive LBS optimized for clinical studies. Up to 120 patients per year will be enrolled at UCI and UCSF with a total of approximately 150 normal subjects and 210 subjects with tumors. LBS studies are conducted prior to and following MRI scans. Data are acquired using a hand-held scanning probe placed in multiple locations mapping the breast surface. Both normal and tumor-containing breasts are studied. Each tissue location is characterized in terms of wavelength-dependent absorption and scattering parameters which, in turn, are used to calculate physiological properties. All data are correlated with structural information derived from conventional sources, such as clinical exam, mammography, ultrasound and histopathology. New methods for co-registering, visualizing, and analyzing LBS and MRI data will be developed and advanced. Dr. John Butler is a co-PI for this project, and serves as the clinical coordinator. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The long-term goal of this research is to advance our understanding of the functional origin of optical and MRI signals in breast tissue imaging. We expect the proposed study results will play a critical role in determining whether optical devices should become much more widely available to patients as a screening/diagnostic tool.