MRI perfusion assessment of brain metastases undergoing SRS - v1

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI Perfusion assessment of brain metastases: baseline characteristics and the study of pattern of perfusion change in suspected radionecrosis post-stereotactic radiosurgery (STARBEAM-X)

• IRAS ID

  304723

• Contact name

  Joanne Lewis

• Contact email

  joanne.lewis@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  Newcastle Joint Research Office

• ISRCTN Number

  ISRCTN62305334

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  This project aims to investigate the use of MR perfusion imaging in patients undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery (high dose radiotherapy) for the treatment of brain metastases. We want to use this imaging for two reasons:
  - To help us understand more about the perfusion characteristics of brain metastases that originate from different primary cancer sites
  - To allow us to compare baseline perfusion appearances with subsequent follow-up perfusion imaging in patients with suspected radionecrosis (radiotherapy damage) in the hope that this helps us identify those with radionecrosis as opposed to tumour progression.

  Patients entering this study will have an MRI perfusion sequence in addition to their planning MRI scan they undergo before radiotherapy – this capability already exists within the MRI scanners in the radiotherapy department. These perfusion images will be formally reported by a radiologist and allocated a ‘perfusion score’, which essentially describes the appearance of the patient’s brain metastases. As the blood supply of tumours is known to influence how they respond to radiotherapy, we would like to explore whether brain metastases from different cancers appear to respond more or less favourably to radiotherapy in relation to their perfusion characteristics.
  A known side-effect of radiotherapy is the development of radionecrosis. This can be identified on MRI scans, and perfusion imaging is often used to help make this diagnosis, as the delineation between radionecrosis and tumour progression can often be quite challenging with conventional MR imaging alone. We would like to investigate whether a baseline perfusion image available to compare with future images helps in the prompt diagnosis of radionecrosis.

• REC name

  East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  22/EM/0057

• Date of REC Opinion

  18 Mar 2022

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion