MICROCHIPS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
MRI scans with respiratory Immobilisation to Contour Radiotherapy Organs at risk using oral Contrast of Hypo or hyper intense fluids Including the Patient perSpective: The MICROCHIPS study.
IRAS ID
305442
Contact name
Matthew Beasley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Liver cancer is a growing problem. Deaths from liver cancer have increased by 80% over the last 10 years. Radiotherapy can be used to treat liver cancer, but it can also hurt healthy cells near the cancer too. This is because the liver moves as you breathe, and it can be hard to tell the difference between cancer cells and healthy cells nearby. We often need to lower the dose of radiation we want to use to treat the cancer because we might hurt the healthy cells near the cancer.
The aim of this study is to improve the visualisation of healthy and unhealthy tissues by reducing motion and improving contrast between organs by asking participants to drink tea or fruit juice and holding their breath during an MRI scan.Patients in work package 1, will be interviewed to explore their views and current experience of liver cancer radiotherapy. They will be asked about different ways of holding their breath and drinking fluids before their MRI scan (known as oral contrasts) that they might otherwise buy in the shops.
In work package 2, different oral contrasts and ways of holding their breath will be compared in fifteen healthy volunteers who will each have four MRI scans.
Patients from the patient and public involvement group will have input in the study by helping to review the results from work package 2 and help agree the methods to test in work package 3. Work package 3 will study 15 patients who are having radiotherapy to treat their liver cancer. In addition to the MRI scan received as part of their standard of care radiotherapy planning pathway, the 15 participants will have an extra MRI scan to compare the use of the chosen oral contrast and breath hold with their standard of care MRI scan. This will be to find out if doctors can see normal tissues and cancer better which might lead to more precise liver radiotherapy treatments.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/WM/0070
Date of REC Opinion
16 May 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion