A study looking at a new type of MRI scan for liver cancer (INTERIOR)
Cancer type:
Status:
Phase:
This study is looking at a new type of 
to improve stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy for liver cancer.
It is open to people who:
- have a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
- are going to have stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR)
- attend The Christie Hospital in Manchester
The team are also looking for healthy volunteers to take part.
More about this trial
You might have stereotactic ablative radiotherapy to treat liver cancer.
Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) gives radiotherapy from many different angles around the body. The beams meet at the tumour. This means the tumour gets a high dose of radiation to kill cancer cells. But the tissues near the tumour only get a low dose of radiation which lowers the risk of side effects.
When planning SABR treatments to the liver, healthcare professionals often have to reduce the amount of radiotherapy. This is to reduce the risk of side effects to the liver. But it could also mean that treatment might not work as well.
Doctors think that a new type of MRI scan of the liver can give a much clearer picture of healthy areas of the liver. The new type of MRI scan is called iron corrected T1. It uses a lot of MRI pictures to map areas of healthy tissue in the liver. This means that healthcare professionals can tailor the SABR even more. This can potentially avoid damaging these healthy tissues.
The new MRI scan is already used to plan surgery. It has not yet been used to plan radiotherapy.
The team hope to run a larger clinical trial looking at the new scans in more people if this study is successful.
The main aims of the study are to find out:
- how reliable the new scan is
- if it is possible to use the scan to see how the liver is working during treatment
- if it is possible to use the information from the scan to lower the amount of radiation to the healthy tissue
Please note, taking part in the study won’t affect your treatment. You won’t benefit from taking part in this study. It might help to improve treatment for people having SABR for liver cancer in the future.
Who can enter
The following bullet points are a summary of the entry conditions for this trial. Talk to your doctor or the study team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.
Who can take part
For people who have liver cancer
You may be able to join this study if all of the following apply. You:
- have a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
- are being cared for at The Christie Hospital in Manchester and you are going to have stereotactic body radiotherapy (SABR)
- can safely have an MRI scan. You fill in a questionnaire before the scan so the team can check this.
- are suitable to have an extra scan on the MRI scanner
- can read and understand the information about the study
- can stop eating or drinking for 4 hours before each scan
- are at least 18 years old
Healthy volunteers
You may be able to join this study if all of the following apply. You:
- can safely have an MRI scan
- are fit and active but might not be able to do heavy physical work (performance status of 0 to 1)
- can stop eating or drinking for 4 hours before each scan
- are at least 18 years old
Who can’t take part
For people who have liver cancer
You cannot join this study if any of these apply. You:
- can’t spend extra time in the MRI scanner
- have another
liver problem or medical condition, so the trial doctor thinks you won’t be suitable for this study
Healthy volunteers
You cannot join this study if any of these apply. You:
- have a significant medical condition or a suspected medical condition in the area of the liver that will be scanned
- have a known or suspected medical condition in a nearby
organ that might be part of the scan - can’t have an MRI scan for any reason
- have another condition that means you are at an increased risk from having an MRI scan. For example, you have a high temperature, a problem regulating the temperature in your body or you have any medical condition that might prevent you from comfortably having the 1 hour long MRI scan.
- feel anxious in small spaces (claustrophobia)
- are pregnant
Trial design
This is a . The team need 10 people with liver cancer to take part and 3 healthy volunteers.
For people who have liver cancer
You have 2 extra scans if you take part in this study.
The team ask that you don’t eat or drink anything for 4 hours before the MRI study scan.
You have the study scan:
- when you have your radiotherapy planning session
- on your last day of radiotherapy
For the last scan, you have it directly after your radiotherapy treatment. This is to make sure that you don’t have to fast for longer than 4 hours.
The study scans take 1 hour each time.
Healthy volunteers
You are invited to take part if you have expressed an interest in having scans for research.
You have 2 MRI scans. You have them about 7 days apart. The team will arrange the scans at a time and day that suits you.
The study scans take 1 hour each time.
Hospital visits
You have the scans done at the Proton Beam Therapy Centre at The Christie Hospital in Manchester.
You have 2 hospital visits if you are a healthy volunteer.
You won’t have any extra hospital visits if you are a patient. The team will arrange for you to have the scans at one of your planned hospital visits.
Side effects
The will monitor you during the scans. You wear headphones during the scan so they can talk to you. There is a help button that you can press and a microphone so you can alert them if you have any problems. They can stop the scan at any time.
An MRI scan is very safe and doesn’t use . Possible risks include:
- feeling warmer when in the scanner
- feeling anxious in the confined space (claustrophobia) in the scanner
We have more information about having an MRI scan.
Location
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Dr Robert Chuter
Supported by
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
The Cancer Research UK Manchester Cancer Research Centre
Perspectum Ltd
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
