Measuring how normal breast tissue lights up on contrast mammograms as a new breast cancer risk marker
Official title: Quantitative background parenchymal enhancement, measured on contrast-enhanced mammogram, as a novel marker of breast cancer risk
Funded at Netherlands Cancer Institute · NIH-11064788 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether measuring how normal breast tissue brightens on contrast mammograms can help find women at higher risk of breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Netherlands Cancer Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amsterdam, Netherlands) |
| Project start | April 2, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $265,730 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA284134-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11064788 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women who receive or are eligible for contrast-enhanced mammography—especially those with dense breasts or unclear risk from standard mammography—are the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot receive contrast (for example due to iodine allergy or severe kidney dysfunction) or who do not undergo CEM would not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would have a contrast-enhanced mammogram (CEM) image analyzed to measure background parenchymal enhancement (BPE), which is how much normal fibroglandular tissue brightens after contrast. The team will compare these CEM-based BPE measurements with existing MRI findings and mammographic density to see how well the new measure relates to future or existing breast cancer diagnoses. They will use imaging data and likely automated image-analysis tools to create consistent, quantitative BPE scores that could be applied during routine screening. The goal is a risk marker that can be used for women who do not get screening MRI.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help personalize screening by identifying women who might benefit from more frequent or additional screening beyond standard mammography.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown that MRI-based BPE relates to breast cancer risk, but applying BPE measurement to contrast-enhanced mammography is a newer approach with limited prior testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Netherlands Cancer Institute
Amsterdam, Netherlands Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Watt, Gordon Patrick — Netherlands Cancer Institute
- Study coordinator: Watt, Gordon Patrick
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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.