Utility of Elastography and Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound For The Differentiation of Tumor Modifications Between Antiangiogenic and Cytotoxic Therapy

Abstract : Robust, novel information on tumor microenvironment would improve therapeutic follow-up in oncology. Shear wave elastography (SWE) evaluates Young's modulus (stiffness) based on shear wave velocity. Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) traces microvascular flow with intravascular microbubbles. In this study, an ectopic tumor model was modified using two different types of drugs a cytotoxic (cyclophosphamide) and an anti-angiogenic (sunitinib). Both CEUS and SWE imaging were sensitive to functional, physiological and mechanical modifications of the tumor and provided complementarity information to describe these modifications.