This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Optimal management of patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) remains a complex therapeutic problem. LABC represents 5-20 % of all newly diagnosed breast cancers in the United States with a higher incidence in medically underserved areas. Over the years, treatment for LABC has been evolving from radical mastectomy to the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed with mastectomy or breast conservation therapy. The optimal intensity and duration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for LABC still remains controversial due to the difficulty of evaluating response to therapy. Presently, response to treatment is measured by physical exam, mammography and or ultrasound. Several studies have showed significant discrepancies between the clinical assessment of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the pathologic assessment of response found in post therapy surgical specimens. Similar studies have shown that patients achieving macroscopic complete pathologic response have a better prognosis than those patients left with residual macroscopic disease at the time of surgery. Preliminary results with a non-invasive optical technique, Steady State Frequency Domain Photon Migration (SS-FDPM), on patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy have shown measurable changes in the breast tumor. Our goal is to establish an animal model using R3230 AC adenocarcinoma mammary tumors. We will perform SS-FDPM readings on the tumors and correlate the measured SS-FDPM optical changes with immunohistochemistry studies of the breast tumor tissues. The histological studies will measure neovessel density count, TSP1, CD31, and VEGF ( Angiogenesis index ) Measurements will be made on tumors before and during their treatment with chemotherapy agents ( Doxorubicin/Cyclophosphamide ). After completing this pilot study, we will analyze the resultant data and correlate the measured optical changes with tissue histology. With this data we will be able to determine which tissue factors are contributing to the SS-FDPM readings.
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