MRI DETECTION OF BREAST CANCER
Keywords:
MRI, breast cancer, metastasizes, extracellular matrix.Abstract
Breast cancer has a high rate of metastasis; one-third of the patients diagnosed with breast cancer eventually develop metastases in distant organs, with an increased risk of mortality [1]. Breast cancer primarily metastasizes to the bone, lung, liver, lymph nodes and brain [ 2]. Breast cancer metastasis can occur years after apparently successful treatment, underscoring the importance of efficient clinical management of the disease, including prompt treatment response and monitoring for possible relapse. Early and accurate detection and differential diagnosis of breast cancer with metastatic potential and micrometastasis (<2 mm) may facilitate the design of more effective and time-sensitive patient-specific therapies[4,5]. Current clinical imaging modalities demonstrate limited potential in the detection and differential diagnosis of small high-risk breast cancer (<2 mm) and micrometastasis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful technique for high-resolution visualization of the anatomic structure and function of soft tissues, including tumours[6]. Small molecular Gd(III) chelates are routinely used for clinical cancer imaging to enhance image contrast by shortening the relaxation times of the surrounding water protons[7]. However, these chelates are non-specific contrast agents and cannot differentiate tumour aggressiveness or provide efficient detectable contrast in small tumours and micrometastases. Consequently, molecular imaging using a biomarker that is specifically associated with tumour aggressiveness and metastasis is an effective approach towards the early detection and differential diagnosis of high-risk breast cancer.
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