A 3D ultrasound scanner to see early chemotherapy response in breast cancer
Official title: Developing a quantitative ultrasound breast scanner for identifying early response of breast cancer to chemotherapy
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11535270 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new 3D ultrasound imaging method will be tested to see if it can quickly show whether breast cancer is responding to chemotherapy.
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 start | August 18, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $159,984 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA273700-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11535270 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with breast cancer who are receiving chemotherapy and are undergoing imaging as part of their care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not undergo chemotherapy or who are not being scanned with ultrasound-based monitoring may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a specialized 3D quantitative ultrasound scanner to capture tumor responses early in chemotherapy. It aims to show that the new image modes can accurately identify responders and non-responders, potentially guiding treatment decisions sooner. The work focuses on patients with breast cancer and integrates advanced imaging with existing clinical care to improve early assessment. The study builds on prior ultrasound metrics and seeks to improve volumetric accuracy and signal interpretation for better prediction of outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster, more accurate information about how well their chemotherapy is working, allowing timely treatment adjustments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed promise with QUSB imaging on hand-held scanners, but this study advances by using a 3D, FDA-cleared scanner and aims for improved accuracy.
Where this research is happening
-
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.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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3D ultrasound method to see early breast cancer response to chemotherapy
A new 3D ultrasound imaging method is being tested to quickly tell if breast cancer is responding to chemotherapy, using a FDA-cleared scanner at an affordable cost.
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3D ultrasound to detect early breast tumor response to chemotherapy
A 3D quantitative ultrasound scanner will be used to detect early changes in breast tumors during chemotherapy for people with breast cancer.
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3D ultrasound to detect early chemotherapy response in breast cancer
A 3D ultrasound scanner will be used to find whether a patient's breast cancer is responding to chemotherapy soon after treatment starts.
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Creating a new ultrasound scanner to detect how well breast cancer responds to chemotherapy
This study is testing a new type of ultrasound scanner that creates detailed 3D images of breast tumors to help doctors see how well chemotherapy is working for breast cancer patients, aiming to catch changes earlier than traditional methods.
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Magnetic resonance fingerprinting to gauge chemotherapy response in breast cancer
A patient-facing look at using a special MRI method (MRF) to see early whether breast cancer is responding to preliminary chemotherapy.
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Understanding how chemotherapy affects breast cancer spread and liver immunity
A research project looks at how standard breast cancer chemotherapy may change the immune system and cancer spread, especially to the liver, in people with aggressive breast cancer.
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.