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Shear wave elastography of tumour growth in a human breast cancer model with pathological correlation

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Abstract

Objective

To assess stiffness in a human breast cancer implanted in mice using shear wave elastography (SWE) during tumour growth and to correlate the results with pathology.

Methods

Local ethics committee for animal research approval was obtained. A human invasive ductal carcinoma was implanted subcutaneously in 24 athymic nude female mice. Ultrasound was longitudinally performed in 22 tumours, every 1–2 weeks. Maximum diameter and mean stiffness were collected. Seven tumours were measured both in vivo and ex vivo. Tumours of different sizes were removed for pathological analysis on which the percentages of viable cellular tissue, fibrosis and necrosis were measured.

Results

A total of 63 SWE measurements were performed. Stiffness increased during tumour growth with an excellent correlation with size (r = 0.94, P < 0.0001). No differences were found between the values of stiffness in vivo and ex vivo (P = 0.81). There was a significant correlation between elasticity and fibrosis (r = 0.83, P < 0.0001), a negative correlation with necrosis (r = −0.76, p = 0.0004) but no significant correlation with cellular tissue (r = 0.40, p = 0.1).

Conclusion

Fibrosis plays an important role in stiffness as measured by SWE, whereas necrosis is correlated with softness.

Key Points

• In a breast cancer model, ultrasound tumour stiffness is correlated with size.

• Stiffness changes with tumour growth are correlated with pathological changes.

• Stiffness is very well correlated with proportion of tumour fibrosis.

• Stiffness is inversely correlated with proportion of tumour necrosis.

• Tumour stiffness measurements are similar in vivo and ex vivo.

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Acknowledgments

J.L. Gennisson is a consultant for SupersonicImagine. M. Tanter received royalties and holds stock options in SupersonicImagine. F. Chamming’s received grants from Société Française de Radiologie.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, INSERM UMR-S970, Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, Paris, France

    Foucauld Chamming’s, V. Fitoussi, T. Quibel, G. Autret, D. Balvay, L. Pidial, C. A. Cuenod, O. Clément & L. S. Fournier

  2. Radiology Department, Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, 20 rue Leblanc, 75908, Paris cedex 15, France

    Foucauld Chamming’s, C. A. Cuenod, O. Clément & L. S. Fournier

  3. Institut Langevin Ondes et Images, ESPCI ParisTech, CNRS UMR 7587, INSERM U979, Paris, France

    H. Latorre-Ossa, J. L. Gennisson & M. Tanter

  4. Pathology Department, Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France

    M. A. Le Frère-Belda

  5. Institut Curie, Translationnal Research Department, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Laboratory of Preclinical Investigations, Quadrilatère historique, porte 13-1 rue Claude Vellefaux, 75010, Paris, France

    F. Assayag & E. Marangoni

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  1. Foucauld Chamming’s
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  2. H. Latorre-Ossa
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  3. M. A. Le Frère-Belda
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  9. D. Balvay
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  11. J. L. Gennisson
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Correspondence to Foucauld Chamming’s.

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Chamming’s, F., Latorre-Ossa, H., Le Frère-Belda, M.A. et al. Shear wave elastography of tumour growth in a human breast cancer model with pathological correlation. Eur Radiol 23, 2079–2086 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-013-2828-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-013-2828-8

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