We propose to develop new, safe and accurate methods for imaging properties of cancers that are related to their stiffness and internal pressure. These properties are important to assess the aggressiveness of cancers as well as the likely outcome of a cancer treatment. Currently, no other existing imaging modality can be used to obtain accurate visualization and measurements of these properties in cancers. By providing new information about the mechanical behavior of cancers, the proposed imaging methods can be used to better understand what drives cancer growth and assess the metastatic nature of cancers. They can also help us designing, guiding and monitoring treatments that can deliver ef...
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We propose to develop new, safe and accurate methods for imaging properties of cancers that are related to their stiffness and internal pressure. These properties are important to assess the aggressiveness of cancers as well as the likely outcome of a cancer treatment. Currently, no other existing imaging modality can be used to obtain accurate visualization and measurements of these properties in cancers. By providing new information about the mechanical behavior of cancers, the proposed imaging methods can be used to better understand what drives cancer growth and assess the metastatic nature of cancers. They can also help us designing, guiding and monitoring treatments that can deliver effective and personalized care. The proposed imaging methods are tested with breast cancer data using standard ultrasound systems. The acquisition of ultrasound signals from the tissue is typically fast and does not require anesthesia or sedation. Then, sophisticated software techniques are used to obtain images and measurements of the tumor that are related to its level of aggressiveness. The same software allows us to carefully monitor any changes occurring in the images before and after treatments. Since these new imaging methods can provide new, highly sensitive parameters that are known to greatly affect the outcome of a treatment, their availability can be of great help to a physician for accurate prognosis of cancers and for the choice of a suitable treatment regime. The proposed imaging technologies are safe, fast and do not require radiations or imaging contrast. This makes them ideal for frequent examinations. They can also be used with small portable devices, such as devices of the size of a computer or a phone. As ultrasound scanners are cost-effective and used worldwide, these technologies can impact a large number of cancer patients, especially in developing countries where sophisticated and expensive imaging equipment may not be readily available.
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