Gradient-Echo Spectroscopic Imaging Study of Saturated Fat and Breast Cancer

The role of fat in breast cancer development and growth has been studied extensively using body mass index, a measure of whole body fatness, and dietary fat intake in a number of epidemiological studies. However, there is a paucity of studies, on an individual level, to assess the role of breast fat itself in breast cancer due to lack of a non-invasive and fast measurement method. Since breast fibroglandular cells are surrounded by breast fat cells, the characteristics of breast fat may have a stronger relationship with breast cancer development, as supported by recent studies showing that a majority of breast cancer develops at the interface between fibroglandular tissue and adipose tissue. However, it is not trivial to study the role of breast fat, mainly due to the lack of a non-invasive and fast measurement method sensitive enough to important features of breast fat, such as types of fat.Recently, we have developed a rapid MRI method, referred to as Gradient-echo Spectroscopic Imaging (GSI), to measure fatty acid composition during clinical breast MRI exams. GSI can provide map of saturated fat and unsaturated fats in the breast adipose tissue without performing tissue biopsy. Our pilot study found that the postmenopausal women with aggressive breast cancer, known as invasive ductal carcinoma, have a significantly higher percentage of saturated fat in their breast adipose tissue than the postmenopausal women with only benign lesions.

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Key information

Conditions

Breast Cancer Breast Diseases Breast Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Skin Diseases Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Age range

25 year–99 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

NYU Langone Health

New York, 10016, United States

About this study

The overarching goal of this study is to determine the role of saturated fatty acid in breast cancer development and growth. In this proposal, GSI will be used for non-invasive in vivo measurement of saturated fat in the breast adipose tissue of postmenopausal women who undergo diagnostic breast MRI exams (Aims 1 and 2) or MRI-guided biopsy scans (Aim 3). The central hypotheses is that (i) the breast saturated fatty acid fraction measured by GSI is associated with the presence of malignant lesions in the breast and (ii) the breast saturated fatty acid fraction correlates positively with inflammation in the breast adipose tissue that may lead to increase in estrogen production in adipocytes.The proposed study will evaluate whether breast saturated fat is an independent risk factor for breast cancer, and whether it can provide additional diagnostic information to current clinical diagnostic exams. In addition, the proposed imaging measure of breast saturated fat can be used to assess the efficacy of any intervention to reduce cancer-related inflammation in the breast adipose tissue and to investigate the possible role of fatty acid composition in prevention and clinical management of breast cancer.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

No contraindications to MRI scanning (pacemaker, implanted metallic objects, severe obesity or other condition that leads to difficulty lying in the magnet)
No contraindication to gadolinium contrast agent (severe renal insufficiency (EGFR<30), allergy to gadolinium) which will be injected for clinical exam
Able and willing to provide informed consent
Post-menopausal age > 25 years.

Exclusion criteria

Contra-indication to MRI or gadolinium contrast agent (have a pacemaker, aneurysm clip, or other metallic implant; weigh >135 kg; or have renal impairment)
Breast surgery within prior 12 months, or breast implants
Any hormonal therapy

Treatment and study plan

Diagnostic Breast Cancer Scan

Diagnostic Test

clinically indicated diagnostic breast MRI scans

Research Scan for Gradient-echo Spectroscopic Imaging (GSI)

Diagnostic Test

15-min research MRI scan

Other names: Gradient-echo Spectroscopic Imaging

Primary outcomes

To compare GSI-measured breast SFA fraction between women with malignant and benign lesions.

Time frame: 5 Years

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

NYU Langone Health

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2018
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Jan 17, 2018
Registry last updated: Feb 13, 2026

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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