Imaging test to show whether non-invasive breast tumor treatment has worked
A tissue viability imaging biomarker for use in non-invasive breast cancer therapy
This project is creating a non-contrast MRI tool powered by AI to quickly show if focused ultrasound has destroyed a localized breast tumor for people with early-stage breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251261 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get MR-guided focused ultrasound, a non-invasive way to heat and destroy a small breast tumor, while researchers collect advanced 3D MRI scans before, during, and after treatment. Those scans will be combined with a deep neural network to produce a non-contrast imaging biomarker that indicates tissue viability. The goal is to give immediate results so doctors can repeat treatment in the same session if any live tumor remains. This approach avoids gadolinium contrast and aims to make the whole procedure more precise and conservative.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with localized, well-defined breast tumors who are eligible for MR-guided focused ultrasound ablation and can undergo MRI.
Not a fit: People with widespread, metastatic, very large or diffuse tumors, or those who cannot have MRI or focused ultrasound, are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let doctors confirm tumor death during the same non-invasive session, reducing the need for repeat treatments and limiting overtreatment.
How similar studies have performed: MR-guided focused ultrasound has been used safely for localized breast tumors and MRI shows tissue changes, but a reliable non-contrast AI-based marker for immediate in-procedure viability is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Payne, Allison — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Payne, Allison
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.