BEHOLD v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
BrEast tissue response to Hyperoxic stimuli via blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent contrast change (BEHOLD)
IRAS ID
143891
Contact name
Fiona J Gilbert
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University of Cambridge
Research summary
Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide and the leading cause of death from cancer among women globally. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is being increasingly used for detecting and diagnosing breast cancer as it has shown better results than the current techniques (mammography and ultrasound examination). Given the common use of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in breast cancer patients, the development of complementary non-invasive techniques to characterise tumour oxygenation remains attractive.
As breast cancer grows there is a need to make new blood vessels to supply the tumour with oxygen and other nutrients. Hypoxia (inadequate oxygen supply to tissue) is a feature of most solid tumours, and is associated with therapy resistance and poor patient outcome in several cancer types, including breast cancer. Blood (BOLD) and tissue (TOLD) oxygenation level-dependent MRI is sensitive to tissue oxygenation, due to the paramagnetic effects of deoxygenated blood and dissolved oxygen.
This pilot study plans to recruit 45 healthy female volunteers and 30 women with breast cancer to optimise BOLD and TOLD contrast in the breast and investigate the ability of this technique to measure dynamic tumour oxygenation changes in breast cancer. All participants will undergo a single MRI scan. We propose to measure signal intensity change using MRI in healthy and malignant breast tissue in response to breathing 100% oxygen and/or “carbogen” (oxygen with a small percentage of carbon dioxide). We will also investigate the relationship between BOLD response and pharmacokinetic perfusion parameters (measures of tumour blood flow). In a subset of patients we also plan to investigate the ability of BOLD MRI to give a picture of hypoxia by comparing to a well-established positron emission tomography (PET) imaging technique.
The study is expected to last for 2.5 years.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/0145
Date of REC Opinion
2 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion