PET/MR in Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer Pilot V.1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploratory study to assess the feasibility of incorporating PET/MR in the radiotherapy pathway of patients with head & neck cancer and guide adaptive dose escalation
IRAS ID
177001
Contact name
Teresa Guerrero Urbano
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Guy's & St Thomas' Foundation NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 27 days
Research summary
PET/MR is a new imaging modality that combines excellent anatomical images with functional information from both PET and MRI. In head and neck cancer patients undergoing radical radiotherapy, it can potentially be used to adapt treatment to the individual, ultimately increasing the therapeutic ratio. However, before any clinical studies can begin, the methods of combining PET/MR and radiotherapy planning data at the beginning and during treatment need to be established and validated.
The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility of obtaining PET/MR scans with the radiotherapy mask and immobilisation devices used to keep patients still for radiotherapy treatment in situ, and the accuracy of transferring and using the scans in our radiotherapy planning systems. We aim to recruit 10 patients with Stage III-IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx where radiotherapy is indicated as the main treatment modality.
Patients will have 2 PET/MR scans, one before treatment and one half-way through radiotherapy. We will aim to do all scans in the radiotherapy treatment position with the immobilisation mask fitted.
We will use the images to assess whether radiotherapy immobilisation devices affect image quality, by comparing to standard PET/CT and MRI images. Different clinically available methods of co-registering PET/MR images to the radiotherapy planning scan will be evaluated for accuracy. Although there will be no treatment intervention in this study, we will use the PET/MR images in a radiotherapy feasibility planning study, to help us establish realistic and safe protocols for a subsequent trial. After each scan patients will be asked to fill in a questionnaire, to assess their experience.
The results will be used to plan a clinical trial that will use PET/MR to adapt and personalise radiotherapy treatment in patients with head and neck cancer.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1790
Date of REC Opinion
30 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion