Improving Breast Cancer Treatment Decisions with Advanced Imaging
Washington University Co-Clinical Imaging Research Resource
This project aims to help doctors better predict which patients with a specific type of metastatic breast cancer will respond well to hormone therapy by using advanced imaging and genetic information.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11132634 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many patients with ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer eventually stop responding to hormone therapy, and it's currently difficult to know who will truly benefit from these treatments. This project is developing new ways to combine advanced PET/CT imaging with genetic information to better understand how tumors respond. Our goal is to create tools that can predict which patients will respond well to hormone therapy, helping doctors make more personalized treatment decisions. This work will be integrated with an ongoing clinical trial for patients with this specific type of breast cancer, aiming to improve outcomes and potentially avoid or delay chemotherapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients with ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer who are considering or undergoing endocrine therapy.
Not a fit: Patients with other types of breast cancer or those not receiving endocrine therapy for ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer may not directly benefit from this specific imaging strategy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to more personalized treatment plans for patients with ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, helping them receive the most effective therapy sooner and potentially avoiding unnecessary chemotherapy.
How similar studies have performed: This project builds upon existing knowledge of PET/CT imaging and genetic analysis, integrating them in a novel way to predict treatment response in this specific patient population.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shoghi, Kooresh Isaac — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Shoghi, Kooresh Isaac
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.