A study looking at 3 different ways of doing an MRI scan for brain tumours (LIFE-GlioB)

This study is looking at 3 ways of doing an MRI scan to understand more about brain tumours and what happens to them during and after treatment.

MRI scans are one of the tests that doctors do to diagnose brain tumours. After treatment you have regular MRI scans to check whether the tumour is coming back or starting to grow again. Researchers are looking for ways to improve the information obtained from the MRI scans..

In this study, the team are looking at 3 new ways of doing an MRI scan. These involve:

• checking how your body processes a substance called lactate that is produced during the breakdown of sugar for energy. This is a carbon MRI scan.

• checking how your body processes sugar (glucose). This is a Deuterium Metabolic Imaging (DMI) scan.

• checking protein levels and tissue acidity. This is a Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI scan.

The aims of the study are to find out:

• whether they can detect the difference between normal tissue and tumour tissue in these MRI scans

• whether either of these ways of doing an MRI scan can better predict how well treatment might work for people with a brain tumour

This study is being done at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. You can’t volunteer to join the study. You can only take part if you are having care at Addenbrookes. Your healthcare team can check if you are suitable for the study and refer you.