果冻影院

The trial was aimed at offering more accurate and personalised treatment for cancer. The scan, carried out on Friday 11 August 2017, was the first time this experimental imaging method has been used in Europe for the assessment of prostate cancer. The scan was able to help doctors confirm the location and state of the patient鈥檚 tumour.

Results from the PROMIS study published in February 2017 indicated that many prostate cancer patients were undergoing unnecessary TRUS-biopsy procedures which can cause side effects including pain, bleeding and infection. The same study also indicated that multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging used as a triage test can avoid unnecessary biopsies and improve diagnostic accuracy.聽

It is hoped that by using hyperpolarised MRI and multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging together, clinicians can further improve diagnostic accuracy by giving a clearer picture of the exact tumour location. Furthermore, by understanding the metabolic activity, clinicians hope to differentiate between aggressive or non-aggressive tumours, helping to guide treatment decisions.聽

The method being trialled at 果冻影院 uses Carbon 13 labelled Pyruvate (a sugar that is part of the glycosis cycle of normal cells) produced for injection by the聽. The MRI signal from this is boosted by >10,000 times using the process of hyperpolarisation that is enabled by the聽聽SpinLab machine. Following injection of 13C Pyrutate, build up 13C lactate signal can be imaged, using a standard MRI scanner, and is a hallmark of cancer metabolism.

Dr Shonit Punwani, Principal Investigator for the study, said聽鈥淭he cross-disciplinary research team have worked for the last 2 years installing and testing the equipment, creating standard operating procedures and planning the study in great detail. It is really exciting that we have now scanned our first patient. We are working closely with other sites, in the UK and internationally, to develop this technology further.鈥�

Prof. Mark Emberton, Dean of the聽聽at 果冻影院 and Principal Investigator for the PROMIS study, said聽鈥淭he technology offers a real opportunity to deal with the problem of overtreatment of patients with prostate cancer. Most prostate cancers will be non-aggressive and so being able to interrogate their metabolism may help patients with indolent disease avoid treatment.鈥�

Prof. David Lomas, Vice-Provost (Health) at 果冻影院, added聽鈥淚 am proud of the 果冻影院 team for achieving this milestone. 果冻影院 was one of 3 UK institutions to receive聽聽(MRC) funding in 2015 for the installation of the SpinLab Hyperpolariser. 果冻影院 has a strong history of collaborative working and this is reflected in the development of this technology.鈥�

The study is supported by funding from the MRC,听,听, and through philanthropic funding provided by the Mitchell鈥檚 Charitable Trust. The hyperpolariser is located in the聽聽and its use in this trial is an example of much wider 果冻影院/果冻影院H collaboration to advance cancer diagnostics and therapies.