Study of diffusion weighted MRI as a predictive biomarker of response during radiotherapy for high and intermediate risk squamous cell cancer of the oropharynx: The MeRInO study

Paterson, C. et al. (2017) Study of diffusion weighted MRI as a predictive biomarker of response during radiotherapy for high and intermediate risk squamous cell cancer of the oropharynx: The MeRInO study. Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology, 2, pp. 13-18. (doi: 10.1016/j.ctro.2016.12.003)

Abstract

Introduction and background: A significant proportion of patients with intermediate and high risk squamous cell cancer of the oropharynx (OPSCC) continue to relapse locally despite radical chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The toxicity of the current combination of intensified dose per fraction radiotherapy and platinum based chemotherapy limits further uniform intensification. If a predictive biomarker for outcomes from CRT can be identified during treatment then individualised and adaptive treatment strategies may be employed. Methods/design: The MeRInO study is a prospective observational imaging study of patients with intermediate and high risk, locally advanced OPSCC receiving radical RT or concurrent CRT Patients undergo diffusion weighted MRI prior to treatment (MRI_1) and during the third week of RT (MRI_2). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements will be made on each scan for previously specified target lesions (primary and lymph nodes) and change in ADC calculated. Patients will be followed up and disease status for each target lesion noted. The primary aim of the MeRInO study is to determine the threshold change in ADC from baseline to week 3 of RT that may identify the sub-group of non-responders during treatment. Discussion: The use of DW-MRI as a predictive biomarker during RT for SCC H&N is in its infancy but studies to date have found that response to treatment may indeed be predicted by comparison of DW-MRI carried out before and during treatment. However, previous studies have included all sub-sites and biological sub-types. Establishing ADC thresholds that predict for local failure is an essential step towards using DW-MRI to improve the therapeutic ratio in treating SCC H&N. This would be done most robustly in a specific H&N sub-site and in sub-types with similar biological behaviour. The MeRInO study will help establish these thresholds in OPSCC.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McLoone, Mr Philip and Grose, Dr Derek and Mcjury, Dr Mark and James, Dr Allan and Foster, Dr John and Allwood-Spiers, Sarah and Chalmers, Professor Anthony
• Authors: Paterson, C., Allwood-Spiers, S., McCrea, I., Foster, J., McJury, M., Thomson, M., Sankaralingam, M., Grose, D., James, A., Rizwanullah, M., McLoone, P., Chalmers, A., and Duffton, A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
• Journal Name: Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2405-6308
• ISSN (Online): 2405-6308
• Published Online: 10 January 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology 2:13-18
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License