RE: The Quantitative Imaging Network (QIN)25 Feb 2021 18:19
The overall goal of this U01 project (CA176110) is to develop and validate both standard and novel perfusion-weighted MRI (PWI) and diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) biomarkers for evaluation of brain tumors and their response to therapies. Two PWI methods will be characterized for clinical trials. The first more wide-spread DSC (dynamic susceptibility contrast) approach provides tumor rCBV (relative cerebral blood volume) measurements obtained after a pre-load of contrast agent and corrected for confounding contrast agent leakage effects. The second approach, while less-proven has high-potential to become the most comprehensive perfusion solution. It consists of using a spiral perfusion imaging method with consecutive echoes (SPICE), which enables the simultaneous collection of both DSC (dynamic susceptibility contrast) and DCE (dynamic contrast enhanced) perfusion data using only a single dose of contrast agent and incorporates comprehensive correction for leakage effects. In addition, the team will continue to explore the potential of DWI methods for the evaluation of treatment response, specifically by computing changes in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) across time and creating functional diffusion maps (fDM) within non-contrast-agent-enhancing regions.
While both PWI and DWI have demonstrated great promise for treatment monitoring, studies defining their test-retest repeatability, necessary for use of these techniques in clinical trials, are lacking, and thus represent the focus of Aim 1. In addition, early results suggest that hybrid PWI/DWI maps will likely provide the most complete assessment of treatment response, a hypothesis that will be tested in Aim 2. Finally, in order to make the optimized PWI/DWI technology and workflow available in a robust and cost-effective manner for clinical trials and standard practice, Aim 3 involves the development of a commercial integrated image analysis platform for use in large-scale multi-center clinical trials. This aim is being accomplished in collaboration with Imaging Biometrics LLC, co-investigators on the U01.