3D ultrasound to detect early breast tumor response to chemotherapy
Developing a quantitative ultrasound breast scanner for identifying early response of breast cancer to chemotherapy
A 3D quantitative ultrasound scanner will be used to detect early changes in breast tumors during chemotherapy for people with breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11404777 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, I would have my breast scanned with a 3D QT Ultrasound tomographic scanner that creates quantitative images like sound speed and tissue reflectivity. The research team will add new imaging modes that measure ultrasound backscatter across the whole breast to improve volumetric accuracy. They will take scans before and during chemotherapy to look for early signs that the tumor is responding. The goal is to spot response much earlier than standard imaging so treatment can be adjusted sooner if needed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with breast cancer who are starting or undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and can attend serial breast ultrasound sessions are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients not receiving chemotherapy, those with tumors that cannot be imaged by the scanner, or those unable to travel for repeated scans are unlikely to benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let doctors know within weeks whether chemotherapy is working so patients can avoid ineffective treatment and switch to better options sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier studies using quantitative ultrasound backscatter on hand-held scanners showed promising early response signals, and applying these methods in a 3D tomographic device is a newer step.
Where this research is happening
Champaign, United States
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oelze, Michael L. — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Oelze, Michael L.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.