Cancer Imaging

Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland OH

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

CANCER IMAGING RESEARCH PROGRAM PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Cancer Imaging (CI) Program is a highly multidisciplinary basic science program that integrates biomedical imaging, engineering and data science, and translational sciences for the study of cancer biology. CI research spans the spectrum, from target identification for molecular imaging and targeted therapy to development of new diagnostic and theranostic tools for image acquisition and image processing, including artificial intelligence and machine learning. The goal of this program is to work with other programs to drive the development of innovative imaging technologies for discerning the mechanisms of cancer biology and advancing novel imaging modalities and targeted theranostics for cancer detection and treatment. Although a basic science program, CI has actively engaged basic and clinical researchers' investigations to drive forward two aims: 1) Develop targeted agents to reveal key aspects of cancer biology that can be leveraged to facilitate diagnosis and guide therapy; and 2) Generate enabling quantitative technologies that can impact patient diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring. CI covers an “arc” of imaging research reaching from “molecules to mice to man” and will continue to translate its discoveries. Under the leadership of Agata Exner (Co-Leader), James Basilion (Co- Leader) and Zhenghong Lee (Co-Leader), the CI Program has 36 full members from all 3 consortium institutions. Members represent 11 departments, giving rise to a total of $9.2M in research grant funding (annual direct costs), of which $7.7M is peer-reviewed and $4.8M is NCI-funded. During the current cycle, CI program members published 609 cancer-related publications. Cancer and program related publications included 41% inter- programmatic, 30% intra-programmatic, and 37% that involved collaborations with another Cancer Center. This highly effective program has made major advances in imaging and nanomedicine. Examples include: the discovery and FDA approval of a novel quantitative MRI imaging analysis tool, MR fingerprinting, for brain cancer analysis; development of novel nanoparticle diagnostics and therapeutics, including an inter-programmatic initiative around a potent dual action immunostimulatory nanoparticle (dual-NP) that reprograms the innate arm of the tumor immune microenvironment triggering a robust and enriched immunostimulation; company formation and completion of phase 1 clinical trials fibronectin-targeting agent for MR-detection of cancer; and development of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques toward more accurate characterization and prediction of response to therapy in rectal cancers. Significantly, the CI researchers are studying many cancers (e.g., prostate, breast, brain metastasis) that have significantly higher incidence rates in our 15-county catchment area region compared to the USA. These efforts are frequently communicated to the community via the Case CCC Community Advisory Board.