Amelie Margarete Lutz, MD, PhD
Stanford University
2009 Gilman Family Scholar
Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer Using Targeted Microbubble-Enhanced Ultrasound
The primary objective of Dr. Lutz’s proposal is to validate and refine molecularly targeted microbubble contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for non-invasive, in-vivo imaging of the ovarian cancer-related angiogenesis. Like other solid tumors, ovarian cancer is critically dependent on functional vascular supply for tumor growth and metastasis. Angiogenesis, the recruitment of new blood vessels, occurs at a very early stage in ovarian cancer development. This work addresses an ovarian-specific target associated with angiogenesis. The translational goal is to apply the approach as part of a multi-modal ovarian cancer screening strategy.