The goal of this pilot study is explore the parameters that can be obtained in bladder tumours by Field-Cycling Imaging (FCI) in patients with both muscle-invasive and non-muscle invasive tumours. The main question it aims to answer is if FCI can give more diagnostic information than conventional tests. Participants will have one FCI scan and the results will be correlated with the results of CT urogram or CT scan.
Patients with organ-confined muscle invasive bladder cancer are treated either by removal of their bladder at cystectomy or by organ-preserving treatment, generally following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In some cases, the neoadjuvant chemotherapy can shrink the tumour so that it is clinically undetectable but there may still be tumour cells present microscopically. This presents a difficulty during planning of radiotherapy treatments, which could then miss the tumour and lead to tumour recurrence. Field-Cycling Imaging (FCI) is an emerging imaging technology pioneered at the University of Aberdeen. FCI can image human tissues non-invasively over a wide range of magnetic field strengths, directly informing on multi-scale tissue structure from nanometres to micrometres. FCI has already shown significant potential for enhanced diagnosis in a range of diseases, and recent results show several potential biomarkers of cancer in breast, colon, and brain. FCI has not been used in bladder cancer before. In this proof-of-concept study, we will recruit patients with both muscle-invasive and non-muscle invasive tumours to explore the parameters that can be obtained in bladder tumours by FCI. Results of the FCI scans will be correlated with the results of CT urogram or CT scan.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
FCI scan
Identification of bladder tumours by Field-Cycling Imaging (FCI) scan
Validation of FCI T1 dispersion profiles as a non-invasive technology able to detect bladder tumours.
Time frame: At baseline
Differentiation of bladder tumours assessed by Field-Cycling Imaging (FCI) T1 dispersion profiles
Validation of FCI T1 dispersion profiles as a clinical tool for distinguishing non-muscle invasive from muscle-invasive bladder tumours.
Time frame: At baseline
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.