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Emerging photoacoustic and thermoacoustic imaging technologies for detecting primary and metastatic cancer and guiding therapy

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Abstract

In recent years, there has been a progressive trend towards less invasive technologies for detecting metastatic cancer and guiding therapy with the goal of lower morbidity, better outcomes, and superior cosmetic appearance than traditional methods. This mini-review examines three emerging noninvasive hybrid technologies for detecting primary cancer, metastasis and guiding thermal therapy. Real-time thermoacoustic imaging and thermometry potentially provides valuable and critical feedback for guiding focused microwave ablation therapy. Label-free photoacoustic monitoring of cancer cells is a promising clinical diagnostic and theranostic tool for detecting metastatic disease and monitoring the response to therapy. Finally, immunologically targeted gold nanoparticles combined with photoacoustic imaging is able to detect lymph node micrometastasis in mouse models of breast cancer. These emerging techniques have the potential to improve the decision to biopsy, provide more accurate prognosis, and enhance the efficacy of therapy for early and late stage cancers.

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Data availability

The data sets presented in Figs. 1 and 2 are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Data presented in Figs. 3 and 4 may be available by referring to the journal where the work was published.

Abbreviations

BCT:

Breast conservation therapy

HIFU:

High intensity focused ultrasound

FMT:

Focused microwave therapy

RFA:

Radiofrequency ablation

ILT:

Interstitial laser therapy

TAI/TAT:

Thermoacoustic imaging and thermometry

MRT:

Magnetic resonance thermometry

CTC:

Circulating tumor cell

GC-AuNPs:

Glycol-chitosan-coated gold nanoparticles

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA

    Russell S. Witte & Ehab A. Tamimi

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  1. Russell S. Witte
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  2. Ehab A. Tamimi
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Correspondence to Russell S. Witte.

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Presented at the 8th International Cancer Metastasis Congress in San Francisco, CA, USA from October 25–27, 2019 (https://www.cancermetastasis.org). To be published in an upcoming Special Issue of Clinical and Experimental Metastasis: Novel Frontiers in Cancer Metastasis.

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Witte, R.S., Tamimi, E.A. Emerging photoacoustic and thermoacoustic imaging technologies for detecting primary and metastatic cancer and guiding therapy. Clin Exp Metastasis 39, 213–217 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10585-021-10095-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10585-021-10095-x

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