Sodium accumulation in breast cancer predicts malignancy and treatment response.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of death in women and novel imaging biomarkers are urgently required. Here, we demonstrate the diagnostic and treatment-monitoring potential of non-invasive sodium (²³Na) MRI in preclinical models of breast cancer.

Methods

Female Rag2^-/- Il2rg^-/- and Balb/c mice bearing orthotopic breast tumours (MDA-MB-231, EMT6 and 4T1) underwent MRI as part of a randomised, controlled, interventional study. Tumour biology was probed using ex vivo fluorescence microscopy and electrophysiology.

Results

²³Na MRI revealed elevated sodium concentration ([Na⁺]) in tumours vs non-tumour regions. Complementary proton-based diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) linked elevated tumour [Na⁺

SUBMITTER: James AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9296657 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature