Published in

MDPI, Current Oncology, 9(29), p. 6303-6313, 2022

DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29090495

Elsevier, International Journal of Radiation Oncology - Biology - Physics, 3(108), p. e790-e791, 2020

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.07.264

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Changes In Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) In Serial Weekly MRI During Radiotherapy In Patients With Head And Neck Cancer: Results From The PREDICT-HN Study

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Published version: archiving allowed
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Background: The PREDICT-HN study aimed to systematically assess the kinetics of imaging MR biomarkers during head and neck radiotherapy. Methods: Patients with intact squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were enrolled. Pre-, during, and post-treatment MRI were obtained. Serial GTV and ADC measurements were recorded. The correlation between each feature and the GTV was calculated using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The linear mixed model was used to evaluate the change in GTV over time. Results: A total of 41 patients completed the study. The majority (76%) had oropharyngeal cancer. A total of 36 patients had intact primary tumours that can be assessed on MRI, and 31 patients had nodal disease with 46 nodes assessed. Median primary GTV (GTVp) size was 14.1cc. The rate of GTVp shrinkage was highest between pre-treatment and week 4. Patients with T3-T4 tumours had a 3.8-fold decrease in GTVp compared to T1-T2 tumours. The ADC values correlated with residual GTVp. The median nodal volume (GTVn) was 12.4cc. No clinical features were found to correlate with GTVn reduction. The overall change in ADC for GTVn from pre-treatment was significant for 35th–95th percentiles in weeks 1–4 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: A discrepancy in the trajectory of ADC between primary and nodal sites suggested that they exhibit different treatment responses and should be analysed separately in future studies.