A study looking at a scan to measure how well cancer treatment works
Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.
Cancer type:
Status:
Phase:
This study is looking at magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure how cancer treatment is working. MRS scans are a type of MRI scan. Cancer Research UK supports this study.
More about this trial
To tell how well a treatment is working doctors often look for substances in the body (biomarkers) that they can measure. They usually do this by taking blood or tissue samples.
In this study the researchers want to see if they can use a biomarker, called lactate. Lactate is a substance that is made by normal body cells and cancer cells. MRS scans can identify lactate in cells.
We know from research that many cancers make large amounts of lactate. We also know that many cancer drugs can change the amount of lactate that cancer cells make. The researchers think they may be able to tell how well a treatment is working by looking for changes to the amount of lactate using MRS scans.
The aims of this study are to
- Look for changes in lactate using MRS scans
- Show that lactate can be identified and measured using MRS scans
Please note - You are unlikely to get any direct benefit from joining this study, but the results may help to improve the way cancer is treated in the future.
Who can enter
You may be able to enter this study if you are in one of the following groups
- You have
lymphoma 
that is at least 2cm in size and are having R-CHOP or CHOP chemotherapy - You are having chemotherapy for bowel cancer that has spread to another part of your body and the cancer is at least 2cm in size
- You have any type of cancer that is at least 2cm in size and are taking part in a phase 1 trial of certain types of drugs – your doctor can advise about this
- You have a primary brain tumour and are having radiotherapy and temozolomide
- You have brain (cerebral) lymphoma and are having chemotherapy
You cannot enter this study if you are not able to have an MRI scan. For example, because you have a pacemaker or other metal in your body, you cannot cope with being in small spaces or you can’t lie flat for at least 40 minutes.
Trial design
This study will recruit a total of 90 people. There are 4 groups
- 15 people with lymphoma
- 15 people with bowel cancer that has spread
- 30 people who are taking part in a phase 1 trial
- 30 people with a primary brain tumour or brain (cerebral) lymphoma
If you have lymphoma, you have a scan before starting treatment and a week after starting treatment.
If you have bowel cancer, you have 2 scans in the week before starting treatment and another 2 scans after treatment.
If you are taking part in a phase 1 trial, you have 2 scans in the week before starting treatment and another 2 scans after treatment.
Each scan takes about 40 minutes.
Hospital visits
You have your scans at the MRI department of the Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton.
Side effects
There are no side effects from taking part in this study.
We have more information about MRI scans.
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
Professor Nandita Desouza
Supported by
Cancer Research UK
Institute of Cancer Research (ICR)
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Facility in Imaging
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
