Angiogenius Analytics

Prostate cancer diagnosis by contrast ultrasound dispersion imaging (CUDI)

Prostate cancer is the form of cancer with the highest incidence in western males. Because of the limitations of current imaging technology, diagnosis still relies on blind random biopsies, where 12 or more tissue samples are extracted with a core needle through the rectum for subsequent histopathological analysis. Because of poor patient selection by blood testing, 3 in 4 patients receive unnecessary biopsies. Moreover, biopsies are not suitable for guidance and targeting of the available minimally invasive focal treatments. As a result, the full prostate is usually removed or treated, with associated high risks for the patient to remain impotent and incontinent.

CUDI is a novel ultrasound technology being developed in our labs for localization of those changes in the microvascular architecture that reflect cancer angiogenesis. This technology is being advanced day after day, and is currently up to the level to reveal the microvascular bed by advanced tractographic approaches.

The validation is promising and large clinical trials are ongoing where image-guided biopsies are targeted by use of CUDI images through accurate image registration and fusion. Several hospitals are involved in the Netherlands and abroad, such as the AMC in Amsterdam, Jeroen Bosch in den Bosch, European Institute of Oncology in Milan, Martini-Klinik in Hamburg, and the 2nd Hospital at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou.