MRS may eliminate need for invasive brain biopsy

Publication
Article
Oncology NEWS InternationalOncology NEWS International Vol 18 No 4
Volume 18
Issue 4

Currently, the only definitive method for telling the difference between side effects of radiation therapy for brain tumors and tumor recurrence involves a biopsy of the brain tissue, said Dr. Ewell, an assistant professor in the department of radiation oncology at the University of Arizona in Tucson. MRS has the potential to eliminate the need for this invasive procedure.

Currently, the only definitive method for telling the difference between side effects of radiation therapy for brain tumors and tumor recurrence involves a biopsy of the brain tissue, said Dr. Ewell, an assistant professor in the department of radiation oncology at the University of Arizona in Tucson. MRS has the potential to eliminate the need for this invasive procedure. The authors retrospectively studied 33 brain tumor patients that had MRS spectra taken during the course of their treatment. Choline (Cho) is a metabolite that is elevate

The authors used the ratio of Cho/NAA to predict whether a lesion represented radiation necrosis or recurrent tumor: A high ratio would indicate tumor, whereas a low ratio would indicate radiation necrosis. This metabolite ratio was successful in determining the difference in roughly 80% of the cases.

They then developed a model that would indicate which of three different clinical decisions are indicated based on the ratio: If this ratio is ≤1.1, the patient would have routine follow-up.

Newsletter

Stay up to date on recent advances in the multidisciplinary approach to cancer.

Recent Videos
T-DXd improved progression-free survival over standard chemotherapy among patients with HR-positive/triple-negative breast cancer in DESTINY-Breast04.
According to Ronan J. Kelly, deciding whether to give nivolumab- or durvalumab-based regimens in gastric cancers may rely on a patient’s frailty.
More follow-up data will better elucidate the impact of frontline use of hypomethylating agents in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.
Five-year follow-up revealed that patients treated with nivolumab vs placebo in the phase 3 CheckMate 577 trial experienced a “doubling” of survival.
Patients treated with nivolumab in the phase 3 CheckMate 577 trial were less likely to experience progression-related treatment discontinuation vs placebo.
Related Content