Using diffusion MRI, researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center developed a functional diffusion map that helps determine whether tumor therapy is working or not.
Using diffusion MRI, researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center developed a functional diffusion map that helps determine whether tumor therapy is working or not.
Thirty-four patients with late-stage diffuse high-grade gliomas underwent diffusion MRI before beginning chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination. Three weeks later, the patients underwent another diffusion MRI. Ten weeks after that, the patients received a standard MRI (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2005; Oct. 31: early online edition).
At three weeks into treatment, and more than two months before the final MRI scan, researchers could identify which patients would have a response to therapy over those with progressive disease. This corresponded to patients' survival, with those classified as having progressive disease living an average 8.2 months. Patients predicted to respond to treatment lived an average 18.2 months.
The researchers believe the test may be useful for other types of cancer, including breast, head and neck, rectal, prostate, and liver. The functional diffusion map is not yet available for routine clinical use.
Stay at the forefront of radiology with the Diagnostic Imaging newsletter, delivering the latest news, clinical insights, and imaging advancements for today’s radiologists.
Key MRI Findings Predictive of Treatment Response for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma
July 14th 2025For patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, a pre-treatment MRI finding of LI-RADS tumor in vein was associated with over an 86 percent lower likelihood of responding to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and targeted immunotherapy.