# An integrated theranostic system for breast cancer

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $549,817

## Abstract

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer (excluding skin cancer) in women, and
is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S. Currently, one woman
in seven will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Surgical intervention is warranted in most
cases. However, as tumors are being detected at increasingly earlier stages, new methods for
less invasive and more focal treatments are warranted. In sharp contrast with its premise, the
translation of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to the clinic has been comparatively
anemic due to the unreliable (B-mode-based) or extremely costly and slow (MRI-based)
monitoring techniques available. There has thus been an urgent need for a simple, cost-
efficient technology that can reliably and efficiently monitor HIFU treatment and thereby ensure
its clinical translation. In order to address both needs and maintain the low cost of HIFU while
preserving all its advantages, we have developed the radiation-force-based technique of
Harmonic Motion Imaging (HMI) that can be used seamlessly with HIFU for simultaneous
tumor targeting and generation and monitoring of ablation, namely HMI for Focused
Ultrasound (HMIgFUS). In the proposed study, we will integrate the HMIgFUS into a clinical
system that will facilitate translation of HMIFU for the focal, thermal treatment of breast tumors.
The underlying hypothesis is that HMIgFUS using parallel beamforming will be capable of
optimally monitoring HIFU ablation in a clinical setting where speed of application is key. The
team assembled encompasses ultrasound, breast imaging, breast surgery, mouse tumor
models and histopathological analysis. Our group has demonstrated that motion estimation
using parallel beamforming is feasible 1) at extremely high framerates (up to 5000 fps)
ensuring highest quality of motion estimation including 2) high precision displacements, 3)
coherent compounding for SNR increase, 4) 2D capability as well as 5) real-time
implementation. Such a reliable monitoring technique could prove pivotal in rendering an
entirely noninvasive treatment accessible to a wide population of breast cancer patients for the
first time by propelling it into fast and reliable outpatient procedure for the focal treatment of
benign or small, non-metastatic breast cancer, thus minimizing mortality and risk.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9975111
- **Project number:** 5R01CA228275-03
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Elisa E. Konofagou
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $549,817
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-06-11 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9975111

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9975111, An integrated theranostic system for breast cancer (5R01CA228275-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9975111. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*