New breast imaging systemcan predict chemotherapy responses in breast cancer

A new optical imaging system which utilizes red and near-infrared light could identify breast cancer patients who might respond to chemotherapy, according to a study carried out by researchers at the Columbia University Irving Medical Centre, published in Radiology. This new imaging system, which is a non-invasive method of measuring blood flow dynamics in response to a single breath hold, might enable doctors to predict responses to chemotherapy as early as two weeks post the initiation of the treatment.

The new dynamic optical tomographic breast imaging system generates 3-D images of both breasts simultaneously, which enables the researchers to observe the blood flow in the breasts, the vasculature alterations, and the blood–tumour interaction. It also distinguishes healthy tissues from malignant ones and shows how a tumour responds to chemotherapy earlier than other imaging techniques.

The aim of the therapy is to eradicate the active cancer cells, yielding a complete response before surgery. Patients who attain a complete response have a reduced risk of cancer recurrence.However, fewer than half of women treated achieved a complete response.

Scientists assessed the imaging data from 34 patients with invasive breast cancer between June 2011 and March 2016. The patients were instructed to position their breasts in the optical system, where, unlike mammograms, there was no compression. Researchers obtained a series of images during a breath hold at least 15 seconds, which prevented the backflow of blood through the veins but not the inflow through the arteries. Also, images were captured after the breath was released, allowing the blood to flow out of the veins in the breasts. Images were obtained before and two weeks after starting chemotherapy.

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Researchers are currently refining and optimizing the imaging system and planning a larger, multicenter clinical trial. They hope to commercialize their technology in the next few years.