Work on an imaging test to detect and monitor inflammation* in brain tumours will take a step forward thanks to two new grants. Researchers within our brain imaging theme are developing a clinically applicable imaging test that could be used in all magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to help predict tumour growth and guide treatment.

They are exploring the use of USPIO (ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles) enhanced MRI where, following injection, specialised nanoparticles circulate in the bloodstream before being taken up by inflammatory cells (macrophages) in tumour tissue, and can be detected by MRI.

PhD student James Breese will be working on the project and has been awarded a highly competitive four-year MRC-DTP funded studentship to investigate the role of USPIO-enhanced MRI, for studying intratumoural inflammation in glioma, cancerous brain tumours that start in glial cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

In addition, Dr Daniel Lewis received funding last year from the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) research fund for a study that will seek to investigate use of USPIO enhanced MRI as an imaging biomarker of macrophage infiltration in NF2-associated vestibular schwannoma – non-cancerous tumours that grow on the hearing and balance nerve. Dr Lewis was the only UK applicant to be awarded an EANS research fund award that year, and this funding is in addition to a previous generous medical research grant award from the Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust for a separate study looking at sporadic vestibular schwannoma.

All three projects are part of UMIC – USPIO enhanced MR Imaging in central nervous system tumours – study led by Principal Investigator Mr David Coope and co-Principal Investigator Dr Lewis. The study is sponsored by Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Lewis, Co-PI on the study said, “This exciting interdisciplinary study will be the first of if its kind in the UK and brings together the key strengths of the GJBRC in using advanced imaging and tissue tools to study the inflammatory microenvironment in brain tumours. Through this and follow on studies we hope to develop a clinically applicable imaging tool that can not only measure the amount of inflammation within any given tumour before treatment but also crucially be used to guide inflammation targeting therapies against these challenging conditions.”

* The immune response or inflammation is a key driver of progression in many tumours around the body. In brain tumours, inflammatory cells called macrophages are present in high numbers and have been shown to be associated with tumour growth.

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