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- Posted Wednesday July 2, 2014
Non-invasive advanced image analysis could lead to better patient care
Lung cancer patients could especially benefit from new 'QTA' technique
PHOENIX, Ariz. - July 2, 2014 - Lung cancer patients could receive more precise treatment, and their progress could be better tracked, using a new high-tech method of non-invasive medical imaging analysis, according to a study published today by the journal PLOS ONE.
Genetic changes increasingly are recognized as driving cancer
development. But obtaining evidence of these changes usually
requires a biopsy, which can be problematic for sensitive regions
of the body such as the lungs.
Based on a review of 48 patients with non-small cell lung cancer
(NSCLC), the study found that by scanning their tumor cells using
"quantitative computed tomography based texture analysis" (QTA),
researchers could determine - with nearly 90 percent accuracy -
whether the patient's tumor had a cancer-causing K-ras gene
mutation.
The study was led by investigators at the Translational
Genomics Research Institute (TGen), the Virginia G. Piper
Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare, and Cancer Treatment
Centers of America (CTCA).
NSCLC represents more than 85 percent of all lung cancers, which
will kill an estimated 159,000 Americans this year, making it the
leading cause of cancer-related death. It has a five-year survival
rate less than 10 percent.
QTA was shown to be an accurate - and non-invasive - alternative
to surgical biopsy and other invasive means of collecting and
analyzing biological samples, the study said. This method of making
genomic distinctions may help physicians determine the best type of
treatment to administer to each patient.
"The ability to rapidly and non-invasively characterize NSCLC
tumors would be a great asset to clinical oncologists," said Dr.
Glen Weiss, the study's lead author, Director of Clinical Research
and Medical Oncologist at Cancer Treatment Centers of America's
Western Regional Medical Center in Phoenix, and a Clinical
Associate Professor in TGen's Cancer and Cell Biology
Division.
"QTA applied to molecularly defined NSCLC cases may have a broader
application to precision medicine by offering a non-invasive way of
identifying the best therapies for each patient," said Dr.
Weiss.
Dr. Ronald Korn, Medical Director of Scottsdale Healthcare's
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center and the study's senior author,
described QTA as a substantial step forward in the use of medical
imaging: "Non-invasive characterization of a tumor's molecular
features could enhance treatment management. Non-invasive QTA can
differentiate the presence of K-ras mutation from pan-wildtype
NSCLC."
Dr. Korn also is CEO and Medical Director of Imaging Endpoints, a
leading imaging core lab that provides centralized image handling
and advanced image interpretations for clinical trials. Through
Scottsdale Healthcare Research Institute, and in collaboration with
Imaging Endpoints Core Lab, this team has developed one of the only
global radiology research laboratories that specializes in rapid
detection and assessment of response (also known as the RADAR
program).
"Although, more studies are needed to move our RADAR program
forward towards routine medical use, our core lab remains focused
upon characterizing tumors non-invasively through imaging and then
using these technologies to help determine, as soon as possible,
whether cancer treatments are working, sometimes within days to
weeks after the start of therapy" said Dr. Korn.
Dr. Weiss said future studies using QTA also could help identify
other genomic sub-types of NSCLC.
This study, Noninvasive Image Texture Analysis Differentiates
K-ras Mutation from Pan-Wildtype NSCLC and is Prognostic, was
supported by the TGen Foundation, the Scottsdale Healthcare
Foundation, the Flinn Foundation, and the United Kingdom Department
of Health. Sequenom Inc. provided the LungCarta Panel test
analysis.
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About the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale
Healthcare
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare in
Scottsdale, Ariz. offers comprehensive cancer treatment and
research through clinical trials, diagnosis, treatment, prevention
and support services in collaboration with leading scientific
researchers and community oncologists. The Virginia G. Piper Cancer
Center at Scottsdale Healthcare, Scottsdale Healthcare Research
Institute, Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center, Scottsdale
Healthcare Shea Medical Center and Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson
Peak Hospital and related entities are part of the non-profit
Scottsdale Lincoln Health Network. For more information, visit: www.shc.org.
Press Contact:
Kaitlan Schick
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare
480-323-1384
[email protected]
*
About Cancer Treatment Centers of America®
Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Inc. (CTCA) is a national
network of five hospitals that focus on the treatment of complex
and advanced-stage cancer. CTCA offers a comprehensive, fully
integrative approach to cancer treatment and serves patients from
all 50 states at facilities located in Atlanta, Chicago,
Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. Known for delivering the Mother
Standard® of care and Patient Empowerment Medicine®, CTCA provides
patients with information about cancer and their treatment options
so they can control their treatment decisions. For more information
about CTCA, visit www.cancercenter.com.
Press Contact:
Nicole McTheny
Director, Public Affairs
Cancer Treatment Centers of
America®
14200 W. Celebrate Life Way, Goodyear, AZ 85338
O:(623) 207-3983
C:(602) 339-1569
[email protected]
*
About Imaging Endpoints
Imaging Endpoints is a full-service imaging contract research
organization providing services to the pharmaceutical, biotech and
medical device industries to accelerate their national and
international clinical trials. Extensive expertise in imaging
allows Imaging Endpoints to perform real-time qualitative and
quantitative assessments of both anatomic and physiologic/metabolic
imaging modalities in order to better probe the effectiveness of
new therapeutics. In addition to its expertise in oncology, Imaging
Endpoints has expertise in neurological, musculoskeletal and
cardiovascular radiologic sciences, and experience in all phases of
clinical trials from preclinical through Phase III and post-market
studies. QTA is exclusively available through Imaging Endpoints
Core Lab and has been used in analysis of solid tumors such as
colorectal cancers, pancreas cancers, lung cancers, prostate
cancers and breast cancers. For more information about Imaging
Endpoints' suite of services, visit www.imagingendpoints.com.
*
About TGen
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused
on helping patients with cancer, neurological disorders and
diabetes, through cutting edge translational research (the process
of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen
physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of
both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children.
Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical
communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial
contribution to help our patients through efficiency and
effectiveness of the translational process. For more information,
visit:www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]