Imaging characteristics of childhood brain ATRT molecular subgroups
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Characterising the imaging phenotype of defined biological subgroups of ATRTs (Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumours)in the childhood brain.
IRAS ID
196983
Contact name
John-Paul Kilday
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumours (ATRTs) are malignant brain tumours that typically arise in children. The outcome for children with brain ATRTs is unpredictable; while many do not survive beyond one year from diagnosis despite current therapy, long-term survivors of childhood ATRT have been reported.
Recent biological studies on resected brain ATRTs have identified two or three different subtypes of this tumour, each with a different genetic make-up or ‘profile’. These different ATRT subtypes are suspected to behave differently; some may need more intensive treatment to improve survival, whereas others can be cured with less intense therapy, minimising patient toxicity.
We will investigate whether these different biological subtypes of childhood ATRT could be predicted early at diagnosis, before any surgery, by their appearances on the patient’s initial imaging. We will use a computer system that integrates numerous data points from a patient’s initial scan into one, large electronic databank. When several scans from different ATRT patients have been added to the system, we hope to establish whether different radiological appearances of ATRTs become apparent and if so, whether they correlate with a blinded biological tumour subgrouping of the same cases which will be performed. In this way, we aim to verify if certain subtypes have a characteristic imaging profile and potentially devise a tool that will predict tumour behaviour and thereby patient outcome before an operation has taken place. Such information is invaluable, influencing treatment decisions before therapy starts.
Initially we will analyse the original imaging and tumour biology from a historical group of children with ATRTs previously treated at two International Children’s Cancer Centres (Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children Toronto, Canada). Experts from both hospitals will collaborate on this. As cases are historical, no new scans or tumour operations will be performed at either site.REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0312
Date of REC Opinion
28 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion