John Stang PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Mahta Moghaddam PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Maha Ali, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Renee Wayne Pinsky MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

J. Brian Fowlkes PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Research support, General Electric Company Equipment support, General Electric Company Equipment support, Toshiba Corporation Research collaboration, Sonetics Inc Stockholder, HistoSonics, Inc Founder, HistoSonics, Inc

Paul L. Carson PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Research collaboration, General Electric Company Research collaboration, Sonetics Inc Research collaboration, ZONARE Medical Systems, Inc Research collaboration, Light Age, Inc

Oliver D. Kripfgans, Abstract Co-Author: Research support, General Electric Company Equipment support, General Electric Company

In the current standard-of-care treatments for breast cancer (surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and radiation therapy), there remains a need for the reduction of local recurrence, harmful side-effects, and cosmetic effects. Toward that end, a transcutaneous ablative therapy system is being developed for the targeted treatment of breast cancer cells using focused microwaves as an adjuvant to radiation, chemotherapy, and high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).

A cylindrical array of antennas is used to focus microwave energy transcutaneously into the pendant breast suspended in a coupling medium. Prior imaging studies are used to ascertain the material properties of the breast tissue, and this data is incorporated into a full wave forward model that solves both Maxwell’s equations and the bioheat equation. Time reversal techniques can then be used to find an initial solution for focusing at a given location, and to precondition a weighted inverse solver that will optimize treatment planning for ablation at the tumor location while minimizing heating elsewhere in the breast. Temperature monitoring using MR, radiometry, or ultrasound methods will be necessary to provide real time feedback to guide the adaptive beamforming during treatment and for confirmation of tumoricidal thermal dose.

A full wave forward model of the microwave therapy array has been created, and 3D heterogeneous breast tissue data can be efficiently imported. In addition, coupling of the electromagnetic energy deposition to the bioheat equation is achieved using COMSOL Multiphysics, and a temperature map within the breast that accounts for perfusion effects has been modeled. Preliminary time-reversal focusing analyses have achieved therapeutic heat deposition with good targeting accuracy, and development of the inverse algorithm for optimal beamforming is underway.

The focused microwave system under development has the potential to reduce tumor size prior to surgery using heat ablation alone or in combination with preoperative chemotherapy, to completely ablate the tumor without surgery, or as an adjuvant to postoperative radiation therapy and chemotherapy. (Army CDMRP BC095397)

Transcutaneous focused microwave ablation could be a useful adjuvant cancer therapy with the potential to reduce recurrence, side-effects, and cosmetic effects relative to current treatments.

Stang, J, Moghaddam, M, Ali, M, Pinsky, R, Fowlkes, J, Carson, P, Kripfgans, O, A Transcutaneous Focused Microwave Ablation System for Noninvasive Cancer Therapy.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9015704.html