The American Cancer Society recommends imaging tests for early detection of breast cancer, but existing imaging techniques have significant downsides such as low sensitivity, an inability to capture tumor physiology, and the unnecessary exposure of the patient to radiation. It is necessary to both avoid radiation exposure while providing anatomical and physiological information about tumors. Noninvasive detection of chemical biomarkers can also enable early diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of breast cancer.
Description
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alone is 99% sensitive but only 37-86% specific, with a high rate of false positives. Our highly sensitive, highly specific breast cancer detector is a medical imaging device that combines MRI with magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) technologies to improve breast cancer detection specificity. The device is a combined volume standard proton coil and carbon proton coil that function simultaneously to capture both the anatomy and physiology of a breast tumor. By tracking biomarkers known to be elevated specifically in breast cancer, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), lactate, and choline, this combined coil system improves breast cancer diagnostic specificity and sensitivity. During in vivo testing, the device demonstrated differences in PUFA spatial distribution between healthy and cancerous human breast tissue.
Applications
• Breast cancer diagnosis
• Monitoring treatment efficacy in breast cancer patients
• Clinical detection of soft tissue diseases such as breast tissue or joint tissue diseases
• Modifications to detect biomarkers associated with other cancers
Advantages
• Sensitive and accurate detection of breast cancer biomarkers
• No radiation exposure
• MRI and MRSI coils function simultaneously, so no added test burden for patients
Invention Readiness
Design, construction, and partial testing complete
Sixty-patient clinical trial planned
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20090118611A1
