The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center received supplemental funding for an Imaging Response Assessment Team [IRAT] from the National Cancer Institute. Iowa was one of 8 NCI designated Cancer Centers to receive this award. This award incorporates imaging techniques to assess the response of tumors in clinical trials. The goal is to increase collaborations between imaging scientists and oncology investigators in the application of quantitative anatomic, functional, and molecular imaging endpoints in clinical therapeutic trials and to integrate quantitative medical imaging to assess response to therapy into approximately 5 new protocols each year. Key elements of the IRAT program are:

• Imaging modalities: Positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT)
• Physiologic parameters: glucose metabolism (FDG PET), membrane synthesis ( 11 C-choline PET), DNA synthesis (Fluorothymidine PET), hypoxia (FAZA PET), perfusion (diffusion MRI), permeability (contrast CT), size (high resolution CT)
• Possible types of study:
  • Baseline and mid-therapy measures to predict if the therapy is working
  • Baseline studies to predict which treatment will be most effective
  • Mid-therapy studies, with plan to change therapy depending on imaging results

The initial goal is to enhance the quality of clinical research studies by encouraging input from imaging scientists early in the development of clinical trials. This will facilitate the identification of settings (tumor type, stage, therapy, and imaging method) when imaging can accurately predict clinical outcome. The IRAT team will be working with the Cancer Center's Protocol Development Office and the Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee to identify new trials that could benefit from imaging. A series of seminars to educate Cancer Center members in how quantitative metabolic imaging can assist in clinical trials will be scheduled.

The HCCC is providing matching funds to help support the imaging being conducted as part of this initiative. To learn more about the IRAT, please contact HCCC administration or Dr. Graham.