Tumors can be visualized by improved ultrasound imaging

Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine combined a contrast agent with ultrasound. They used the SFRP2 protein which improves the ability to detect tumors by scans. The results of this study are published in PLOS ONE. Nancy Klauber-Demore, MD, professor of surgery and Paul Dayton, PhD, professor of biomedical engineering, members of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center were involved in this study who were able to see lesions of malignant cancer. “The SFRP2-moleculary targeted contrast agent showed specific visualization of the tumor vasculature”, said Klauber-DeMore. “In contrast, there was no visualization of normal blood vessels. This suggests that the contrast agent may help distinguish malignant from benign masses found on imaging”. The laboratory of Klauber-DeMore was the first one to discover the angiosarcoma cells. The researchers consider that as tumors increase, the level of the SFPR2 protein also increases. The new technique could represent a lower-cost treatment alternative for patients.