Mark Warren, of the University of Liverpool, is aiming to reduce side-effects of radiotherapy for lung cancer patients with his research.
Starting this October, the project will test how accurately and precisely Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can describe tumour position and movement.
Mark aims to find out if these images can be used to reduce the amount of healthy tissue targeted with high radiation doses and lower the level of doses to the heart and other critical organs. The findings will guide the design of more accurate radiotherapy treatments, aiming to reduce side-effects and potentially to improve cure rates.
Mark said: “Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK but the most common cause of cancer death. Radiotherapy is the standard curative treatment for inoperable lung cancer. It works by carefully targeting the cancer with beams of high dose radiation.”
He believes there are opportunities to reduce the side effects of radiotherapy by improving its accuracy.
Mark, pictured, said: “The best information about tumour position is presently provided by four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT), a type of X-ray image. 4D-CT images do not show the full extent of tumour motion during breathing, nor provide good contrast between tumours and healthy tissues.
“Immediately before daily radiation treatments, we adjust the targeting of tumours using images collected by CT scanners built into the machines that deliver radiotherapy. But these images are poor quality, and while some tissues like bone are seen clearly, centrally-located tumours are not.”
To avoid missing the tumour, the region targeted with high radiation doses will include some surrounding healthy tissues, which can cause side-effects in critical organs.
Mark adds: “A new treatment machine called an MRI-linac can take four-dimensional magnetic resonance images (4D-MRI). These images provide sharper contrast than 4D-CT, and can be taken more often and over longer periods. This may allow us to see better where tumours are and to take steps immediately before treatment to avoid delivering radiation to healthy tissues.”
4D-MR and 4D-CT images from 20 lung cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre will be collected and analysed.
Professor Nagesh Kalakonda, Clinical Director (Research and Innovation) at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to learn that Mark has secured a prestigious NIHR Doctoral Fellowship that is focused on MRI guided radiotherapy treatments for cancer patients.
“The preliminary work that was instrumental in securing this award was funded in a £25K grant by the Clatterbridge Research Development Fund, sponsored by The Clattterbridge Cancer Charity. This attests to the importance of this ongoing programme for pump-priming promising projects. We wish Mark every success in his planned work.”
Katrina Bury, Head of Charity at The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, said: “I am delighted that funding from The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity has enabled Mark to initiate this incredible work and that further funding has now been secured to extend his research, which will have a significant impact on the care of patients. I would like to thank our supporters whose donations to our Charity have allowed this life-changing research, which will shape cancer care for generations to come, to take place.”
The newly established Liverpool Cancer Research Institute (LCRI), which functions as a translational research engine in which clinical themes provide a bi-directional conduit linking fundamental science, experimental medicine and clinical research. The LCRI encompasses all cancer research activity within the University of Liverpool and all translational research in The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. Find out more here.
