Better MRI scans to tell if breast cancer treatment is working
Multicenter Quantitative MRI Assessment of Breast Cancer Therapy Response
This project uses a more detailed contrast MRI method to see early whether treatment is working for people with breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | William Beaumont Hospital Research Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Royal Oak, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11085138 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would have contrast-enhanced MRI scans before and during treatment that track how contrast and water move in and out of tumor tissue. The team will compare standard MRI analysis with a newer Shutter-Speed model that measures water exchange and a specific marker called τi that may reflect tumor metabolism. Early single-center work suggested the Shutter-Speed model and τi can better predict response to pre-surgery (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy. This multicenter effort will check whether those findings hold true across different hospitals so doctors can get earlier, more reliable information about treatment effect.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with breast cancer who are scheduled to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy and can undergo contrast-enhanced MRI.
Not a fit: Patients not receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, those with contraindications to MRI or contrast (for example certain implants or severe kidney problems), or those with widespread metastatic disease may not benefit from this imaging approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let doctors know sooner whether a therapy is working so treatments can be tailored and ineffective therapies avoided.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier single-center studies at OHSU reported promising results for the Shutter-Speed model and its τi marker, but multicenter confirmation is still needed.
Where this research is happening
Royal Oak, United States
- William Beaumont Hospital Research Inst — Royal Oak, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Wei — William Beaumont Hospital Research Inst
- Study coordinator: Huang, Wei
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.