Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Bone Metastases Treated with Radiotherapy in Palliative Intent: A Multicenter Prospective Study on Clinical and Instrumental Evaluation Assessment Concordance (MARTE Study)

Diagnostics, 2023 · DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13142334 · Published: July 10, 2023

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the effectiveness of using MRI to evaluate bone metastases after radiotherapy. The primary goal is to see if a reduction in bone lesion volume, as measured by MRI, correlates with improved symptom control in patients. This involves comparing MRI scans taken before and after radiotherapy treatment. MRI is preferred because it is well-tolerated, avoids ionizing radiation, and doesn't require contrast media, allowing accurate bone lesion assessment. The study also seeks to identify imaging parameters (morphological changes and radiomic features) on MRI sequences that can differentiate between patients who respond well and those who don't respond well to treatment. The ultimate aim is to personalize cancer treatment based on these imaging findings, potentially leading to better-tailored therapies for individual patients. The study uses both clinical (symptoms) and morphological (MRI) criteria to evaluate local disease control.

Study Duration

From 1 October 2022 to 31 September 2024

Participants

A sample of 174 subjects

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The primary objective is to assess the concordance between morphological (MRI-based) and clinical (symptom-based) methods in evaluating local control of bone metastases after radiotherapy.
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Secondary objectives include evaluating MRI features (quantitative and radiomic) and patient-related clinical parameters (gender, age, tumor histology) to identify predictive factors for treatment response.
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The study aims to determine if changes observed on MRI (reduction in tumor size) correlate with improved pain relief and quality of life for patients undergoing radiation therapy for bone metastases.

Research Summary

This study focuses on using MRI to evaluate bone metastases treated with palliative radiotherapy, aiming to correlate lesion volume reduction with improved symptom control. MRI is preferred due to its tolerance, lack of radiation, and accurate assessment capabilities. The research also seeks to identify MRI parameters that can distinguish between patients who respond well and those who don't to treatment, potentially leading to personalized cancer therapy. The study will assess morphological and clinical criteria to evaluate local disease control, using MRI before and after radiotherapy, and will consider patient-related clinical parameters to find predictive factors for treatment response.

Practical Implications

Personalized Cancer Treatment

The study's findings could enable more tailored cancer treatments based on individual patient responses to therapy, as indicated by MRI parameters.

Improved Patient Outcomes

Early identification of treatment response or non-response through MRI could lead to timely interventions and improved quality of life for patients with bone metastases.

Enhanced Monitoring of Radiotherapy

MRI could become a crucial tool in monitoring the effectiveness of radiation therapy, allowing for adjustments to treatment plans based on observed changes in bone lesions.

Study Limitations

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The initial phase of a clinical study is represented by sampling.
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Another limitation of the study can be represented by the short observation period to which the patients are subjected.
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This implies that the results of the study are proportional only to the follow-up time of metastatic patients.

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