EORTC study examines DW-MRI in patients with resectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer

Diffusion weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a widely used technique to detect and characterize cancers as well as to monitor response to therapy. DW-MRI offers numerous advantages for patients with cancer and their treating physicians. It is a non-invasive imaging tool which does not require the administration of contrast agents nor ionizing radiation. Furthermore, it can be obtained relatively quickly, in a couple of minutes, and is easily incorporated into routine patient evaluations.

DW-MRI can measure the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), a quantitative parameter that can be used as a biomarker for assessing response to treatment. Low ADC values, for example, are found in tissues having restricted diffusion of water molecules, such as tumors, lymph nodes, or in areas of fibrosis. High ADC values, on the other hand, are found in tissues where water molecules can freely diffuse, such as in glandular or necrotic tissues. ADC is thus a potential imaging biomarker for characterizing cellular integrity, and it could enable early identification of cell death caused by chemotherapy and/or targeted treatments.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the western world, and DW-MRI is potentially well suited for patients with this disease. In this light, EORTC trial 1423 has opened to evaluate DW-MRI in patients with resectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer treated with preoperative therapy. Here, the value of early changes in ADC predicts treatment response against pathology will be qualified in colorectal liver metastasis in a multicenter prospective study.

Prof. Sigrid Stroobants of the Universitair Ziekenhuis in Antwerp, Belgium, and coordinator of this study says, "About half of all patients with colorectal cancer will develop metastases, and despite improvements in surgical techniques and new chemotherapy regimens, 5-year survival rates remain below 60%. For patients with colorectal liver metastases, neoadjuvant chemotherapy plays an important role in managing their disease."

"In studies led by the QuIC-ConCePT consortium, we established and tested a standardized and optimized DW-MRI protocol for reproducibility in a multicenter setting," continues Prof. Stroobants. "In EORTC trial 1423, DW-MRI and the measurement of ADC will be qualified as an early read out marker for assessing response to treatment."

High ADC values are found in necrotic tissues. If the chemotherapy effectively kills the tumor cells, it causes the cell membranes to lose their integrity, and this loss in integrity can be measured by their ADC. ADC is a potential imaging biomarker for characterizing cellular integrity and, consequently, early identification of cell death induced by chemotherapy, anti-angiogenic or anti-EGFR mAb combination.