Ultrasound Platform for A Priori Therapy Response Prediction

在这个项目中，将基于肿瘤的超声和光声特征和机器学习方法，开发预测化疗和放疗反应的方法。我们最近发现，在化疗前获得的定量超声和光谱学参数可用于预测化疗结果。初步结果表明，在开始4-6个月的化疗或数周的放疗前，基于定量超声数据预测最终临床反应的敏感性和特异性均超过85-90%（1,2）。这项研究将开发预测肿瘤对治疗反应的方法。我们将开发一个用于患者的平台；肿瘤的最佳超声和光声预测特征将基于患者数据和使用传统分类方法和机器学习方法的临床结果来确定。这项研究的首要目标是改变超声和光声学，它们是非侵入性的，廉价的和便携的，这样它们就可以通过功能成像来预测癌症治疗的结果。通过提前和/或在治疗早期预测肿瘤反应，而不是在完成4-6个月的治疗后进行传统的解剖评估，可以避免无效的治疗，有利于更有效的治疗。这有可能增加反应率，从而改善长期预后，提高生存率，并避免患者因治疗而产生不必要的副作用，这些副作用可能持续数周至数月。

In this project will be developing methods to predict chemotherapy and radiotherapy responses inadvance of treatment based on ultrasound and photoacoustic characteristics of tumours and machine learning approaches.We have recently discovered that quantitative ultrasound and optical spectroscopy parameters obtained before any chemotherapy is administered can be used to predictchemotherapy outcomes. First results have demonstrated sensitivities and specificities of over 85-90% each for predicting ultimate clinical response based on quantitative ultrasounddata before starting 4-6 months of chemotherapy or many weeks of radiotherapy (1,2). The research will develop methods to predict tumour responses to treatment. We will develop a platform for use in patients; optimal ultrasound and photoacoustic predictive characteristics for tumours will be determined based on patient data and clinical outcomes using traditional classification methods and machine learning approaches. The overarching goal of this research is to transform ultrasound and photoacoustics, which are non-invasive, inexpensive and portable, such that they can be used to predict cancertherapy outcomes through functional imaging. By predicting tumour response in advance and/or early on during a treatment rather than using traditional anatomical assessments that take place weeks to months after the completion of 4-6 months of therapy, ineffective therapies could be avoided in favour of more efficacious treatments. This has the potential ofincreasing the response rate which is associated with improved long term outcome improving survival in addition to sparing patients unnecessary side effects of treatments that may span weeks to months.