Background While radiation therapy (RT) is a critical component of breast cancer therapy and is known to decrease overall local recurrence rates, recent studies have shown that normal tissue radiation damage may increase recurrence risk. Fibrosis is a well‐known consequence of RT, but the specific sequence of molecular and mechanical changes induced by RT remains poorly understood. Purpose To improve cancer therapy outcomes, there is a need to understand the role of the irradiated tissue microenvironment in tumor recurrence. This study seeks to evaluate the use of spectral quantitative ultrasound (spectral QUS) for real time determination of the normal tissue characteristic radiation response and to correlate these results to molecular features in irradiated tissues. Methods Murine mammary fat pads (MFPs) were irradiated to 20 Gy, and spectral QUS was used to analyze tissue physical properties pre‐irradiation as well as at 1, 5, and 10 days post‐irradiation. Tissues were processed for scanning electron microscopy imaging as well as histological and immunohistochemical staining to evaluate morphology and structure. Results Tissue morphological and structural changes were observed non‐invasively following radiation using mid‐band fit (MBF), spectral slope (SS), and spectral intercept (SI) measurements obtained from spectral QUS. Statistically significant shifts in MBF and SI indicate structural tissue changes in real time, which matched histological observations. Radiation damage was indicated by increased adipose tissue density and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate the potential of using spectral QUS to noninvasively evaluate normal tissue changes resulting from radiation damage. This supports further pre‐clinical studies to determine how the tissue microenvironment and physical properties change in response to therapy, which may be important for improving treatment strategies.
BackgroundWhile radiation therapy (RT) is an critical component of breast cancer therapy and is known to decrease overall local recurrence rates, recent studies have shown that normal tissue radiation damage may increase recurrence risk. Fibrosis is a well-known consequence of RT, but the specific sequence of molecular and mechanical changes induced by RT remains poorly understood.PurposeThere is currently a need to understand the contribution of the irradiated tissue microenvironment to recurrence to improve cancer therapy outcomes. This study seeks to evaluate the use of quantitative ultrasound spectroscopy (QUS) for real time determination of the normal tissue characteristic radiation response and to correlate these results to molecular features in irradiated tissues.MethodsMurine mammary fat pads (MFPs) were irradiated to 20 Gy, and QUS was used to analyze tissue physical properties pre-irradiation as well as at 1, 5, and 10 days post-irradiation. Tissues were processed for scanning electron microscopy imaging as well as histological and immunohistochemical staining to evaluate morphology and structure.ResultsTissue morphological and structural changes were observed non-invasively following radiation using mid-band fit (MBF), spectral slope (SS), and spectral intercept (SI) measurements obtained from QUS. Statistically significant shifts in MBF and SI indicate structural tissue changes in real time, which matched histological observations. Radiation damage was indicated by increased adipose tissue density and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate the potential of using QUS to non-invasively evaluate normal tissue changes resulting from radiation damage. This supports further pre-clinical studies to determine how the tissue microenvironment and physical properties change in response to therapy, which may be important for improving treatment strategies.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.