Supersonic Shear Wave Elastography of Response to Anti-cancer Therapy in a Xenograft Tumor Model
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Published on: May 25, 2018
Foucauld Chamming's1, Marie-Aude Le-Frère-Belda2, Heldmuth Latorre-Ossa3
1Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR-S970, Paris, France; Radiology Department, Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France.
Abstract:
Our objective was to determine if supersonic shear wave elastography (SSWE) can detect changes in stiffness of a breast cancer model under therapy. A human invasive carcinoma was implanted in 22 mice. Eleven were treated with an anti-angiogenic therapy and 11 with glucose for 24 d. Tumor volume and stiffness were assessed during 2 wk before treatment and 0, 7, 12, 20 and 24 d after the start of therapy using SSWE. Pathology was assessed after 12 and 24 d of treatment. We found that response to therapy was associated with early softening of treated tumors only, resulting in a significant difference from non-treated tumors after 12 d of treatment (p = 0.03). On pathology, large areas of necrosis were observed at 12 d in treated tumors. Although treatment was still effective, treated tumors subsequently stiffened during a second phase of the treatment (days 12-24), with a small amount of necrosis observed on pathology on day 24. In conclusion, SSWE was able to measure changes in the stiffness of tumors in response to anti-cancer treatment. However, stiffness changes associated with good response to treatment may change over time, and increased stiffness may also reflect therapy efficacy.
Insights
Supersonic shear wave elastography (SSWE) can detect breast cancer tumor stiffness changes during anti-angiogenic therapy. Early softening indicates treatment response, but later stiffening may also reflect efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Assessing anti-cancer treatment efficacy non-invasively is crucial.
- Tumor stiffness changes can indicate therapeutic response.
- Supersonic shear wave elastography (SSWE) measures tissue stiffness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if SSWE can detect stiffness changes in a breast cancer model during anti-angiogenic therapy.
- To correlate stiffness changes with treatment response and pathological findings.
Main Methods:
- A human invasive carcinoma model was established in 22 mice.
- Mice received either anti-angiogenic therapy or glucose for 24 days.
- Tumor volume and stiffness were monitored using SSWE before and after treatment initiation.
- Pathology was assessed at 12 and 24 days.
Main Results:
- Treated tumors showed early softening, significantly differing from controls after 12 days (p=0.03).
- Pathology revealed necrosis in treated tumors at 12 days.
- Tumors later stiffened between days 12-24, despite continued efficacy, with minimal necrosis at day 24.
Conclusions:
- SSWE effectively measures tumor stiffness changes in response to anti-cancer treatment.
- Early softening correlates with treatment response, while later stiffening may also indicate efficacy.
- Stiffness dynamics provide valuable insights into tumor response over time.
