Ultrasound Platform for A Priori Therapy Response Prediction

在这个项目中，将开发基于肿瘤的超声和光声特性以及机器学习方法来提前预测化疗和放射治疗反应的方法。我们最近发现，在进行任何化疗之前获得的定量超声和光学光谱参数可以用于预测化疗结果。初步结果表明，在开始4-6个月的化疗或数周的放射治疗(1，2)之前，根据定量超声数据预测最终临床反应的灵敏度和特异度均超过85%-90%。这项研究将开发预测肿瘤治疗反应的方法。我们将开发一个供患者使用的平台；将根据患者数据和临床结果，使用传统的分类方法和机器学习方法来确定肿瘤的最佳超声和光声预测特征。这项研究的首要目标是改变超声波和光声学，使其成为非侵入性、廉价和便携的，以便它们可以通过功能成像来预测癌症治疗结果。通过提前和/或在治疗期间早期预测肿瘤反应，而不是使用传统的解剖学评估，在完成4-6个月的治疗后进行几周至几个月的评估，可以避免无效的治疗，有利于更有效的治疗。这有可能提高应答率，这与改善长期结果、提高存活率有关，此外还可以避免患者可能持续数周至数月的治疗的不必要副作用。

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.