Researchers from the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at Imperial College London have made significant strides in understanding the treatment of glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer. Their study, published in the journal Cancers, uses advanced imaging techniques to explore how these tumours respond to radiotherapy.
Glioblastoma is known for its poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Standard treatment usually involves surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy, yet predicting how a tumour will respond to radiation has always been challenging. However, this new study offers hope in this area.
Led by Dr Nicoleta Baxan (below), the research team used a technique known as radiomics, which analyses MRI scans to extract detailed information that goes beyond what the human eye can see. The team found that certain radiomic features could predict how a tumour would respond to radiation, providing valuable insights for treatment planning.
One key finding was that radiomic features could quantify subtle changes in the tumour's structure and function, which are not visible through standard imaging techniques. This suggests that radiomics could potentially serve as a non-invasive 'virtual biopsy', allowing clinicians to monitor tumour response without invasive procedures, and guide treatment decisions more effectively.
The implications of this research are significant. By improving our understanding of how glioblastomas respond to radiation, this study could lead to more personalised and effective treatment strategies. It also highlights the potential of radiomics to enhance the evaluation of new therapies and accelerate their development.
This important work was supported by Brain Tumour Research and its member charity the Brain Tumour Research Campaign.
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