research and development

Introduction

Although we are a clinical imaging centre, the clinical leads in all imaging modalities have strong research backgrounds. In collaboration with the clinical and academic departments at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Gray Cancer Institute, University College Hospital and with external partners, clinical cancer imaging research is focused on translational areas related to tumour vascularity, cellularity, proliferation and hypoxia. This work involves the initiation, development and planning of methodological and clinical studies aimed at obtaining functional information on the tumour microenvironment in animals and humans. We are active co-applicants in a number of successful grant proposals in support of this research. We also co-supervise physicians undertaking functional imaging research towards PhD and MD awards.

Main Objectives of Research

To develop, improve and validate functional imaging techniques (MRI/CT/PET) for their potential to probe the microenvironment of tumours (with an emphasis on microvessel functionality, cellularity and hypoxia assessments).
To evaluate functional imaging techniques (dynamic MRI, diffusion MRI and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) MRI, perfusion CT, PET with Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and other PET tracers) as tumour response variables for conventional and novel treatments.
To fully exploit the potential role of perfusion MRI/CT in the early development of novel anti-vascular cancer treatments by attracting pharmaceutical interest to Mount Vernon Hospital.
To develop and validate BOLD-MRI with PET as measures of tissue hypoxia and to incorporate such techniques into treatment planning processes.

These objectives fit in well with the strategic research interests of Mount Vernon Cancer Centre and the Gray Cancer Institute which include:

Evaluation of normal therapeutics (drug & radiotherapy treatments).
Early stage clinical trials including phase I & phase II studies.
Evaluation of hypoxia as a radiotherapy resistance parameter & investigation of methods to overcome these effects.
Targeted physical treatments for cancer including intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

An example of our recent work is illustrated in the MRI image showing 2 patients with breast cancer who were treated with chemotherapy for 2 cycles. The patient on the left responds to therapy whereas the right hand patient does not. Note how we are able to gauge response to therapy using anatomical images (top 2 rows), functional maps of capillary permeability and blood volume or graphically (bottom).