Metabolic imaging of the effects of brain radiotherapy

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

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Abstract

Preclinical studies in a novel model of a resistant phenotype to radiation-induced memory dysfunction that our laboratory has developed suggest an MRI-based metabolic signature of radiation-induced memory dysfunction. These data indicate the potential to develop an imaging methodology to observe memory decline in real-time, potentially revealing neurologic damage in susceptible patients undergoing cancer treatment with potential application to endogenous neuropathologies such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The ability to detect changes prior to the onset to clinically-significant memory decline allows for medical interventions in a potentially critical time-window that would allow for reversibility of symptoms and/or reversal of neurologic injury. Thus, in the next year, we aim to refine these preclinical metabolic signatures of radiation-induced memory dysfunction and recovery along with the evaluation of radiation protectors and radiation mitigator effects on these signatures. In parallel, application of these novel imaging methodologies will be developed for evaluation of human subjects in future studies.