Three-Dimensional Ultrasound and Spectroscopy as Early Indicators of Breast Cancer Response to Neoadjuvant Treatment

This project is an early validation study in human subjects that will use three-dimensional ultrasound imaging and spectroscopy to monitor cell death occurring at various time points during a patient's treatment for advanced breast cancer. Standard neoadjuvant treatments for breast cancer consisting of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy will be used in patients. Reponses will be followed with ultrasound imaging and spectroscopy at regular predetermined time-points. The research is exploratory since upon data analysis it will examine the use of different ultrasound backscatter parameters as potential markers of cell death and correlate these with changes in tumour size and complete pathological response.