Vibrational shear wave elastography to optimise therapy monitoring
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identifying the challenges and benefits of using a new ultrasound imaging technique for assessing how well a treatment for cancer is working
IRAS ID
326884
Contact name
Patrick Kierkegaard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 31 days
Research summary
Imaging can be used to find out if a cancer treatment is working or not. We use Computer Tomography or Magnetic Resonance Imaging to measure the size of the tumour. If the tumour has shrunk or is no longer visible on the images, the treatment is working. Patients living with cancer often wait weeks or months to find out if their treatment has worked well. There is good evidence to show that tumours soften after treatment. This occurs before they reduce in size.
We have developed a new ultrasound imaging technique called vibrational shear wave elastography which can measure the stiffness of tumours. This new type of non-invasive medical imaging technique uses a small vibrator touching the patient’s skin to help form the images. The system is not fully developed yet but we intend to design the technique so that it feels like a normal ultrasound scan.
This new technique will show doctors if the cancer treatment is working weeks before the tumour shrinks and help doctors tailor treatment according to the response. But before we finish the design of the device, we need to find out what patients, medical staff, and manufacturers think about it, how to improve it, and how to integrate it into the NHS.
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/0451
Date of REC Opinion
25 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion