R01CA280980

Leveraging Hyperpolarized MRI for Precision Oncology Approaches in Head and Neck Cancer - Project Summary/Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Genotoxic agents, including radiation therapy (RT) and cisplatin (CDDP), are treatments that damage cellular DNA. RT and CDDP are the current standard of care in multiple solid tumors, including HNSCC. CDDP is the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agent in HNSCC, proving superior to novel targeted agents in recent large randomized trials.

Despite this, high rates of treatment failure persist in patients who develop resistance following this toxic chemotherapy. Treatment failure is uniformly fatal. However, no robust predictors of acquired cisplatin resistance or tumor response exist. Given this critical unmet need, we have focused our efforts on the assessment of tumor response using minimally invasive quantitative imaging (hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging; HP-MRI) while patients are undergoing therapy.

We showed that CDDP and other genotoxic agents trigger measurable fluctuations in tumor cell metabolism detectable through HP-MRI with [1-13C]-pyruvate in real time (confirmed by conventional biochemical assays). Genotoxic stress suppresses the apparent rate of pyruvate conversion into lactate (KPL) via lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in a manner that correlates with anti-tumor effectiveness. We therefore hypothesize that changes in KPL provide unique insight into metabolic changes induced by cisplatin that can be used to optimize response to therapy in HNSCC.

In Aim 1, we will characterize baseline HP-MRI parameters such as KPL across the spectrum of HNSCC subtypes and validate the relationship between CDDP and associated shifts in carbon flux. We will also identify metabolomic differences in HNSCC models that affect baseline values of metabolic imaging biomarkers and modulate apparent changes induced by cisplatin.

In Aim 2, we will integrate the dose-response data from Aim 1 to develop a predictive model of response to CDDP based on metabolic imaging parameters. We will use a simple algorithm to adjust therapeutic dose based on HP-MRI data in animal models of HNSCC to maximize tumor growth delay and test whether thresholds suggestive of strong response can be used to select the more effective treatment regimen when multiple regimens are tested in parallel.

In Aim 3, we will conduct a first-in-human evaluation of changes in HP-MRI to detect shifts in carbon flux following CDDP in HNSCC patients. We will correlate changes in metabolic imaging parameters with the baseline metabolic phenotype of tumors as determined from metabolomic analysis and direct measurements of tumor LDH.

Successful completion of this study will establish HP-MRI as a non-invasive imaging modality able to predict response to treatment, which will be a noteworthy first step towards a precision oncology approach that we have been seeking for nearly half a century. Thus, the proposed research is relevant to the part of the NIH's mission that pertains to developing and applying fundamental knowledge that will help to reduce the burdens of human illness and addresses directly the recently published "Notice of Special Interest: Precision Imaging of Oral Lesions" (NOT-DE-21-010).

The Univeristy Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

TO IMPROVE SCREENING AND EARLY DETECTION STRATEGIES AND TO DEVELOP ACCURATE DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES AND METHODS FOR PREDICTING THE COURSE OF DISEASE IN CANCER PATIENTS. SCREENING AND EARLY DETECTION RESEARCH INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIES TO DECREASE CANCER MORTALITY BY FINDING TUMORS EARLY WHEN THEY ARE MORE AMENABLE TO TREATMENT. DIAGNOSIS RESEARCH FOCUSES ON METHODS TO DETERMINE THE PRESENCE OF A SPECIFIC TYPE OF CANCER, TO PREDICT ITS COURSE AND RESPONSE TO THERAPY, BOTH A PARTICULAR THERAPY OR A CLASS OF AGENTS, AND TO MONITOR THE EFFECT OF THE THERAPY AND THE APPEARANCE OF DISEASE RECURRENCE. THESE METHODS INCLUDE DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING AND DIRECT ANALYSES OF SPECIMENS FROM TUMOR OR OTHER TISSUES. SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED FOR ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING RESOURCES OF HUMAN TISSUE TO FACILITATE RESEARCH. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SBIR PROGRAM, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.394 - Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research

National Cancer Institute (NCI) [HHS - NIH]

Houston, Texas 770304009 United States

Single Zip Code

NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-20-185)

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 08/31/27 to 08/31/28 and the total obligations have increased 386% from $675,133 to $3,278,152.