MRI for Eval Tumor & Node Response & Normal Tissue Function to Concurrent Chemo & Radiation Therapy in H&N Cancer (GCC1043)

Overview

The investigators' goal is to incorporate advanced imaging information into the treatment planning process and assess response in tumor, nodes and non-cancerous tissues in head and neck cancer patients during and after concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy (chemoRT) via biophysical, biochemical and vascular imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The investigators will recruit 30 patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer into the study. All patients will obtain an advanced MRI study at three time points: 1) before the start of chemoRT, 2) 4 weeks following the start of chemoRT, and 3) 3-4 months following completion of chemoRT. MRI scans will include a) T1, T2 and T2\* imaging, b) vascular images using dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) imaging, c) biophysical microstructure images using diffusion-weighted imaging, and d) biochemical images using MR spectroscopic imaging. The subject's response (tumor, nodes and salivary and mucosal tissues) will be evaluated using clinical outcomes. Correlations will be generated between the parameters obtained from MR images and from clinical response assessments. The purpose of this study is to assess whether advanced MR imaging techniques can be used to determine tumor and node response (i) four weeks following initiation of concurrent chemoRT and (ii) after completion of chemoRT in head and neck cancer, and to assess whether advanced MR imaging techniques can be used to predict early at-risk organ function (salivary gland and mucosal injury) as measured by salivary flow and oral mucositis to chemoradiation therapy (i) four weeks following initiation of concurrent chemoRT and (ii) after completion of chemoRT in head and neck cancer.

MRI scans will be performed at three time points. The time points will be 1-2 weeks prior to the start of treatment, between 4 and 5 weeks after the start of treatment (i.e., after the 20th radiation treatment fraction and before the start of the 25th radiation treatment fraction), and 3-4 months after the completion of chemoRT. Scans acquired at the first and third time points will be clinically indicated (except for the spectroscopy scan) and ordered by the treating physician. The scan session corresponding to the second time point will be for research purposes. The investigators chose 4-5 weeks as the time point for predicting early response to chemoRT for the following reason. In a 7-week treatment regimen, an indicator tested at \> 5 weeks would have limited predictive utility in the consideration of an alternative therapy, i.e., surgical intervention. However, an indicator measured at \<= 5 weeks (i.e., with enough time remaining to the end of therapy) might potentially inform the therapeutic course of action in future studies. If this pilot study demonstrates utility of advanced MR imaging techniques identified at 4-5 weeks, future studies could focus on the optimal timing for assessment of early response. The time point of 3-4 months is selected for assessing post-therapy response because it coincides with the clinical follow-up schedule (at which an image-based assessment of response is performed via a clinical exam and/or PET imaging) that determines the standard of care response. T1, T2, and T2\* MRI scans will be performed to delineate head and neck tissues. DCE MRI scans will provide quantitative assessment of contrast uptake in tissues and tissue vasculature both during and at follow-up after completion of chemoRT. Contrast on images will be provided by a gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA). GBCA is FDA-approved and is routinely used in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI scans. Further, contrast enhanced MRI is typically obtained on all cancer patients including head and neck cancer as part of routine clinical care. Diffusion MRI scans will provide information on the diffusion of water molecules in tumor, nodes and other head and neck tissues. MR spectroscopy scans will provide information on tissue metabolites. All scans acquired prior to the start of chemoRT will provide baseline maps against which functional maps acquired during and after completion of chemoRT will be compared to determine the relative change in anatomical, biophysical and biochemical parameters. Image anatomy and parameter maps will be correlated with dose maps derived from CT images by registering (fusing) MRI images with CT images acquired as part of standard of care and used for treatment planning of the subject's radiation treatment.