Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Pancreatic Cancer: a Feasibility and Reproducibility Study

Not Applicable

Completed

Lead Sponsor: Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)

Brief Summary: Novel predictive markers are needed to determine treatment efficacy in pancreatic cancer at an early stage. Preferably, these markers could be determined non-invasively and provide insight into the biology of pancreatic cancer. Several MR techniques can serve for this purpose. However, optimalisation of these techniques is needed and their reproducibility should be assessed.

Detailed Description: Background of the study:

Novel predictive markers are needed to determine treatment efficacy in pancreatic cancer at an early stage. Preferably, these markers could be determined non-invasively and provide insight into the biology of pancreatic cancer. Several MR techniques can serve for this purpose. However, optimalisation of these techniques is needed and their reproducibility should be assessed.

Objective of the study:

To optimize DCE-MRI, T2\* MRI and DWI in pancreatic cancer at 3T and investigate its reproducibility.

Study design:

In the first part of the study, patients with pancreatic cancer will undergo an MR measurement protocol once at 3T, to optimize MR techniques (DCE-MRI, T2\* MRI and DWI). In the second part of the study, to assess reproducibility patients will undergo the MR measurement protocol twice within one week before start of any treatment.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Patients with pancreatic tumors, with histological or cytological proof of adenocarcinoma or a high suspicion on CT imaging.
Any tumor with a size ≥ 1cm
WHO-performance score 0-2
Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

Any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering adequate informed consent or compliance with the study protocol.
Contra-indications for MR scanning, including patients with a pacemaker, cochlear implant or neurostimulator; patients with non-MR compatible metallic implants in their eye, spine, thorax or abdomen; or an aneurysm clip in their brain; patients with severe claustrophobia.
Renal failure (GFR < 30 ml/min) hampering safe administration of Gadolinium containing MR contrast agent.
For the reproducibility part of the protocol: surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy foreseen within the timeframe needed for MRI scanning.

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Optimization	Gadobutrol	For optimization of the protocol patients will undergo one DCE-MRI (Gadobutrol), T2\* MRI and DWI MRI scan.
Reproducibility	Gadobutrol	For determination of the reproducibility patients will undergo two DCE-MRI (Gadobutrol), T2\* MRI and DWI MRI scans within one week.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reproducibility of DCE, T2* and DWI MRI in pancreatic cancer.	Within 1 week	To assess reproducibility, 15 patients will undergo the MR measurement protocol twice within one week before start of any treatment. Reproducibility of; DWI: mean ADC of the whole tumor. DCE: mean Ktrans of the whole tumor. T2\*: average value of the whole tumor.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Compare in vivo measurements of tumor vascularity, hypoxia and stroma using DCE-MRI, T2* MRI and DWI with immunohistochemically determined markers of vascularity, hypoxia and stroma in pancreatic tumor tissue	Within 1 week	In those patients for whom tumor tissue is available which has not been treated with radiation or chemotherapy, DCE-MRI, T2\* MRI and DWI will be compared with immunohistochemical markers of vascularity, hypoxia and stroma (e.g. CD-31, HIF1-alfa, CA9, GLUT1, PAI-1, VEGF, anti-SMA).
To explore the relation between in vivo measurements of tumor vascularity, hypoxia and stroma using DCE-MRI, T2* MRI and DWI and treatment outcome.	1 year

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