Feasibility Study of Serial MRI Imaging for Advanced Radiotherapy Planning in Rectal Cancer Patients

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the feasibility of using serial MRI images for advanced radiotherapy planning in patients with rectal cancer. This observational study focuses on locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma, aiming to determine whether repeated MRI scans can improve tumor localization and response assessment during radiotherapy treatment. Rectal cancer is a common type of bowel cancer, and radiotherapy plays a key role in its management, but accurate imaging for treatment planning remains challenging. The study includes patients scheduled for standard neoadjuvant radiotherapy prior to surgery. Radiotherapy regimens typically involve either long course chemoradiotherapy or short course radiotherapy, both widely used internationally. MRI is used to provide better soft tissue visualization compared to CT scans, potentially enabling more precise targeting of the tumor volume during radiotherapy. This study will observe patients over 18 months to collect MRI images and assess changes in tumor volume and imaging parameters. Participants will undergo serial MRI scans and routine radiotherapy treatment as planned by their care team. Researchers will collect data on radiotherapy target volumes, image parameters like apparent diffusion coefficient, and assess inter-observer agreement in target delineation. Quality of life will also be measured using validated questionnaires over 18 months. The primary goal is to determine the practicality of acquiring these MRI images to improve radiotherapy planning for rectal cancer.

Advances in Imaging to Assess Response in Rectal Cancer