Early response prediction during radiotherapy in rectal cancer using sequential diffusion-weighted imaging at a magnetic resonance image-guided linear accelerator.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Varying response to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) challenges the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Our purpose was to timely stratify responders by investigating the predictive potential of sequential, in-treatment diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) images.

Materials and methods

DW images were acquired with a 1.5 T MR-Linac at baseline and during MR-guided CRT in 15 patients with LARC prescribed long-course CRT, prospectively enrolled between 2018 and 2021. Tumour response was classified as good or poor based on pathologic tumour regression. Changes in mean tumour apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were analysed by linear mixed-effects models and compared to modelling using volume. Model coefficient analysis and receiver oper

SUBMITTER: Hundvin JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12550183 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature