Ultrasound Plays Important Role in Chicken Ovarian Cancer Studies

Hens are scanned using ZONARE probes

Our medical community has long struggled to find an appropriate animal model for the study of human ovarian cancer, a disease which causes 140,000 human deaths annually. In 2007, a medical research team revealed strong evidence that they’ve found that animal: chickens.

The interdisciplinary team from Rush University Medical Center, the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and the University of Illinois at Chicago presented the original study results at the 2007 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) meeting and further results at the 2010 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) meeting.  Dr. Animesh Barua, PhD, and Dr. Jacques Abramowicz, MD, both of Rush University, lead the team.

Using ultrasound technology from ZONARE Medical Systems, the researchers discovered that pathological and sonographic changes associated with ovarian cancer in chickens are similar to those detected in women with ovarian cancer.

“The chicken is the only animal that spontaneously develops ovarian cancer like a human,” explained Abramowicz, Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Director of Ob/Gyn ultrasound, Rush University Medical Center. “During ultrasound analysis, it was possible to identify hens with multiple follicular hierarchy, those without follicles or other ovarian abnormalities, including solid masses and ascites. This means endovaginal ultrasound can be used to determine ovarian status including tumor progression or early changes in the ovarian morphology in hens.”

Since then, studies using the hens have progressed. “Since the original study, we’ve been able to add color Doppler imaging and contrast agents to the ultrasound studies,” explained Abramowicz. “We’re able to visualize blood vessels within the tumors, which we could not do without the contrast agent.” The enhanced detection of blood vessels is an important event, because new vascular development is one of the earliest signs of ovarian cancer.

ZONARE’s Danette Rumoro, RT(R), RDMS, and Keith Holub were both present for some of the hen scanning sessions. Remarkably, it is not necessary to sedate the hens during the procedure. “During the scans, Janice Bahr, professor at the U of I, gently held the chickens and spoke to them in a motherly fashion, which kept the chickens calm and unharmed while valuable information was obtained,” said Rumoro.

ZONARE’s z.one ultrasound system was used for the study. “The patented Zone Sonography Technology and excellent image quality for quick and easy identification of the chickens’ ovaries,” explained Rumoro. “Mature follicles (yolks) as well as abnormal tissue differentiation, which may be indicative of cancer, were clearly seen with the ultrasound system.” The z.one system also identified ascites, another indication of cancer.

“Because of the rate of ovarian cancer in hens is so high, and because the first sign such a chicken will develop cancer is that it stops laying eggs, we will be able to track hens from before they develop the disease to the early stages and on into later stages,” said Dr. Abramowicz. “Not only is the histology identical to humans, we are finding the same biomarkers, such as CA-125 and others, present in chickens. They are truly an amazing model.”

Using ZONARE’s z.one ultrasound system as part of the study, Dr. Abramowicz believes routine ultrasound exams, along with other critical tests, could be key in detecting early signs of ovarian cancer in chickens which would then be applied to developing the tools for early detection in humans. A team of researchers from Rush University, including immunologists, pharmacologists, pathologists and others, is closely involved. “These findings have not yet translated to changes in human detection, but hopefully that will come,” said Abramowicz.