Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40427125›Full record

ArticleCancers2025

Assessing Ultrasound as a Tool for Monitoring Tumor Regression During Chemotherapy: Insights from a Cohort of Breast Cancer Patients.

Vlad Bogdan Varzaru, Aurica Elisabeta Moatar, Roxana Popescu, Daniela Puscasiu, Daliborca Cristina Vlad, Cristian Sebastian Vlad, Andreas Rempen, Ionut Marcel Cobec

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Monitoring Pharmacological Treatment of Breast Cancer with MRI.Current issues in molecular biology · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Vlad Bogdan VarzaruDoctoral School, Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Aurica Elisabeta MoatarANAPATMOL Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Roxana PopescuANAPATMOL Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-9387-1141
Daniela PuscasiuDepartment of Cell and Molecular Biology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Daliborca Cristina VladDepartment of Pharmacology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Cristian Sebastian VladDepartment of Pharmacology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Andreas RempenClinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Diakoneo Diak Klinikum, 74523 Schwäbisch Hall, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-4184-7430
Ionut Marcel CobecANAPATMOL Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-3240-4793

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesAccurate assessment of tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer is critical for optimizing treatment strategies. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammography are commonly used for response evaluation, they have inherent limitations. Ultrasound (US) has emerged as a promising, cost-effective, and real-time alternative. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of US in tracking tumor regression during NAC and its correlation with pathologic tumor regression grade (TRG).

methodsThis study included 282 breast cancer patients undergoing NAC. Tumor size was measured using ultrasound at three key time points: pre-chemotherapy, after four cycles, and post-chemotherapy. Spearman's correlation was used to assess the relationship between US-measured tumor changes and TRG. Multinomial logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine the predictive accuracy of the measurements from our US in identifying pathologic complete response (pCR).

conclusionsUltrasound is a reliable, real-time imaging tool for monitoring NAC response in breast cancer patients. Its ability to predict pCR and track tumor shrinkage highlights its potential for treatment adaptation. Standardization of US protocols and integration with AI-based analysis may further improve its clinical utility, making it a valuable adjunct in breast cancer treatment monitoring.

Indexed as

breast cancerchemotherapyultrasound

Identifiers

PMID40427125
PMCPMC12110051

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.