Breast MRI during Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Lack of Background Parenchymal Enhancement Suppression and Inferior Treatment Response.

Background Suppression of background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) is commonly observed after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) at contrast-enhanced breast MRI. It was hypothesized that nonsuppressed BPE may be associated with inferior response to NAC. Purpose To investigate the relationship between lack of BPE suppression and pathologic response.

Predicting breast cancer response to neoadjuvant treatment using multi-feature MRI: results from the I-SPY 2 TRIAL.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI provides both morphological and functional information regarding breast tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). The purpose of this retrospective study is to test if prediction models combining multiple MRI features outperform models with single features. Four features were quantitatively calculated in each MRI exam: functional tumor volume, longest diameter, sphericity, and contralateral background parenchymal enhancement.

A Randomized Phase IIb Study of Low-dose Tamoxifen in Chest-irradiated Cancer Survivors at Risk for Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Low-dose tamoxifen reduces breast cancer risk, but remains untested in chest-irradiated cancer survivors-a population with breast cancer risk comparable with mutation carriers. We hypothesized that low-dose tamoxifen would be safe and efficacious in reducing radiation-related breast cancer risk.

Patients And Methods: We conducted an investigator-initiated, randomized, phase IIb, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial (FDA IND107367) between 2010 and 2016 at 15 U.

Test-retest repeatability and reproducibility of ADC measures by breast DWI: Results from the ACRIN 6698 trial.

Background: Quantitative diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) MRI is a promising technique for cancer characterization and treatment monitoring. Knowledge of the reproducibility of DWI metrics in breast tumors is necessary to apply DWI as a clinical biomarker.

Purpose: To evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of breast tumor apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in a multi-institution clinical trial setting, using standardized DWI protocols and quality assurance (QA) procedures.

Prediction of Arteriovenous Fistula Clinical Maturation from Postoperative Ultrasound Measurements: Findings from the Hemodialysis Fistula Maturation Study.

Background: The utility of early postoperative ultrasound measurements in predicting arteriovenous fistula (AVF) clinical maturation is uncertain.

Methods: We investigated the relationships of ultrasound parameters with AVF clinical maturation in newly created AVF, measured at 1 day and 2 and 6 weeks, in 602 participants of a multicenter, observational cohort study. A backward elimination algorithm identified ultrasound measurements that independently predicted unassisted and overall AVF maturation.

Diffusion-weighted MRI Findings Predict Pathologic Response in Neoadjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer: The ACRIN 6698 Multicenter Trial.

Purpose To determine if the change in tumor apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) at diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI is predictive of pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Materials and Methods In this prospective multicenter study, 272 consecutive women with breast cancer were enrolled at 10 institutions (from August 2012 to January 2015) and were randomized to treatment with 12 weekly doses of paclitaxel (with or without an experimental agent), followed by 12 weeks of treatment with four cycles of anthracycline. Each woman underwent breast DW MRI before treatment, at early treatment (3 weeks), at midtreatment (12 weeks), and after treatment.

Exploring effects of presurgical weight loss among women with stage 0-II breast cancer: protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial.

Introduction: Obesity is a known risk factor for postmenopausal breast cancer and is associated with poorer prognosis for premenopausal and postmenopausal patients; however, the aetiological mechanisms are unknown. Preclinical studies support weight loss via caloric restriction and increased physical activity as a possible cancer control strategy, though few clinical studies have been conducted. We undertook a feasibility trial among women recently diagnosed with stage 0-II breast cancer hypothesising that presurgical weight loss would be feasible, safe and result in favourable changes in tumour markers and circulating biomarkers.

Association between Preoperative Vascular Function and Postoperative Arteriovenous Fistula Development.

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maturation failure is the primary cause of dialysis vascular access dysfunction. To evaluate whether preoperative vascular functional properties predict postoperative AVF measurements, patients enrolled in the Hemodialysis Fistula Maturation Study underwent up to five preoperative vascular function tests (VFTs): flow-mediated dilation (FMD), nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NMD), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, carotid-radial pulse wave velocity, and venous occlusion plethysmography. We used mixed effects multiple regression analyses to relate each preoperative VFT to ultrasound measurements of AVF blood flow rate and venous diameter at 1 day, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks after AVF placement.

Arteriovenous Fistula Development in the First 6 Weeks after Creation.

Purpose: To assess the anatomic development of native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) during the first 6 weeks after creation by using ultrasonographic (US) measurements in a multicenter hemodialysis fistula maturation study.

Materials And Methods: Each institutional review board approved the prospective study protocol, and written informed consent was obtained. Six hundred and two participants (180 women and 422 men, 459 with upper-arm AVF and 143 with forearm AVF) from seven clinical centers underwent preoperative artery and vein US mapping.

Ultrasound imaging of breast tumor perfusion and neovascular morphology.

A novel image processing strategy is detailed for simultaneous measurement of tumor perfusion and neovascular morphology parameters from a sequence of dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) images. After normalization and tumor segmentation, a global time-intensity curve describing contrast agent flow was analyzed to derive surrogate measures of tumor perfusion (i.e.

Preoperative arterial microcalcification and clinical outcomes of arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis.

Background: Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) often fail to mature, but the mechanism of AVF nonmaturation is poorly understood. Arterial microcalcification is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may limit vascular dilatation, thereby contributing to early postoperative juxta-anastomotic AVF stenosis and impaired AVF maturation. This study evaluated whether preexisting arterial microcalcification adversely affects AVF outcomes.

Combination therapy with anti-DR5 antibody and tamoxifen for triple negative breast cancer.

TRA-8, a monoclonal antibody targeting death receptor, has demonstrated high therapeutic effect for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) in preclinical models. Tamoxifen, the standard of care for ERα-positive breast cancer, induces apoptosis via ERβ, which commonly presents in TNBC cells. The current study investigates the combination effects of TRA-8 and tamoxifen for TNBC.

Ultrasound-stimulated drug delivery for treatment of residual disease after incomplete resection of head and neck cancer.

Microbubbles triggered with localized ultrasound (US) can improve tumor drug delivery and retention. Termed US-stimulated drug delivery, this strategy was applied to head and neck cancer (HNC) in a post-surgical tumor resection model. Luciferase-positive HNC squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was implanted in the flanks of nude athymic mice (N = 24) that underwent various degrees of surgical tumor resection (0%, 50% or 100%).

Early therapy assessment of combined anti-DR5 antibody and carboplatin in triple-negative breast cancer xenografts in mice using diffusion-weighted imaging and (1)H MR spectroscopy.

Purpose: To assess the early response of triple-negative breast-cancer (TNBC) following TRA-8 and carboplatin therapy using DWI and MRS in 2LMP and SUM159 mouse models.

Materials And Methods: Four groups (n = 5/group) of each model were untreated or treated with carboplatin, TRA-8, and combination, respectively. DWI and MRS were applied on 0, 3, and 7 days after therapy initiation, and all tumors were collected thereafter for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining.

Antagonistic effects of anti-EMMPRIN antibody when combined with chemotherapy against hypovascular pancreatic cancers.

Purpose: To examine the antagonistic effects of anti-extracellular matrix metalloprotease inducer (anti-EMMPRIN) antibody when combined with chemotherapy using a hypovascular pancreatic tumor model.

Procedures: Severely compromised immunodeficient mice bearing orthotopic MIA PaCa-2 tumors were used (five to six animals per group). Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine the relationship between tumor vascularity and size.

Diffusion weighted imaging evaluated the early therapy effect of tamoxifen in an MNU-induced mammary cancer rat model.

Purpose: To assess the optimal time point of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for early prognosis of breast cancer following tamoxifen therapy using a methylnitrosourea (MNU)-induced ER-positive breast-cancer model.

Methods: Two groups of Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 15 for group 1; n = 10 for group 2) were used. All animals (50 days old) were intravenously injected with MNU (50 mg/kg body weight) to induce ER-positive mammary tumors.

How do I screen patients for breast cancer?

Breast cancer is a complex, heterogeneous disease. Approximately 230,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States each year and approximately 40,000 women die each year with breast cancer. Although prevention of the disease would be preferred, no real prospects are available in the near future that would be applicable to the majority of women who are at risk for breast cancer.

The ACR/Society of Breast Imaging Resident and Fellowship Training Curriculum for Breast Imaging, updated.

The education committees of the ACR Commission on Breast Imaging and the Society of Breast Imaging have revised the resident and fellowship training curriculum to reflect the current state of breast imaging in the United States. The original curriculum, created by the Society of Breast Imaging in 2000, had been updated only once before, in 2006. Since that time, a number of significant changes have occurred in the way mammography is acquired, how adjunctive breast imaging methods are used, and how pathology is assessed.

Ultrasound measurement of brachial artery elasticity prior to hemodialysis access placement: a pilot study.

Objectives: Successful hemodialysis requires reliable vascular access that can deliver adequate blood flow. An arteriovenous fistula is preferred for access because of its longevity and low frequency of complications, but up to 60% of arteriovenous fistulas created surgically are never suitable for hemodialysis because of nonmaturation (insufficient vascular dilatation). Decreased arterial elasticity may impair dilatation, thereby affecting fistula maturation.

Molecular targeting of ultrasonographic contrast agent for detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of ultrasonographic (US) imaging of head and neck cancer with targeted contrast agents both in vitro and in vivo. We hypothesize that conjugation of microbubble contrast agent to tumor-specific antibodies may improve US detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Design: Preclinical blinded assessment of anti-EGFR and anti-CD147 microbubble contrast agents for US imaging of HNSCC.

Dual combination therapy targeting DR5 and EMMPRIN in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

The goal of the study was to assess the efficacy of combined extracellular matrix metalloprotease inducer (EMMPRIN)- and death receptor 5 (DR5)-targeted therapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma in orthotopic mouse models with multimodal imaging. Cytotoxicity of anti-EMMPRIN antibody and anti-DR5 antibody (TRA-8) in MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cell lines was measured by ATPlite assay in vitro. The distributions of Cy5.

Microbubble-mediated ultrasonic techniques for improved chemotherapeutic delivery in cancer.

Background: Ultrasound (US) exposed microbubble (MB) contrast agents have the capability to transiently enhance cell membrane permeability. Using this technique in cancer treatment to increase the efficiency of chemotherapy through passive, localized delivery has been an emerging area of research.

Purpose: Investigation of the influence of US parameters on MB-mediated drug delivery in cancer.

A triple-targeted ultrasound contrast agent provides improved localization to tumor vasculature.

Objectives: Actively targeting ultrasound contrast agents to tumor vasculature improves contrast-enhanced sonography of tumor angiogenesis. This report summarizes an evaluation of multitargeted microbubbles, comparing single-, dual-, and triple-targeted motifs.

Methods: Microbubbles were avidin-biotin linked to antibodies against mouse α(V)β(3)-integrin, P-selectin, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2.