Neuroblastoma has one of the lowest survival rates of all childhood cancers despite the use of intensive treatment regimens usually consisting of a mix of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, stem cell transplant, immunotherapy and retinoid therapy. However, because at 40%, the 4-year overall survival for late-stage neuroblastoma is still low compared with other childhood malignancies, new combination regimens are being developed and tested. In some cases, it is desirable to test investigational protocols in preclinical models of the disease to establish efficacy.
The aim of the study “MRI-Guided Radiotherapy of the SK-N-SH Neuroblastoma Xenograft Model Using a Small Animal Radiation Research Platform” by Aurelien Corroyer Dulmont, et al. was to develop a robust method for radiotherapy planning and tumour response monitoring based on combined MRI and cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging and to apply it to a widely studied mouse xenograft model of neuroblastoma, SK-N-SH, using the Xstrahl SARRP.
As part of a tumour growth inhibition study, SK-N-SH xenografts were generated in BALB/c nu/nu mice. Mice (n58) were placed in a printed MR- and CT-compatible plastic cradle, imaged using a 4.7-T MRI scanner and then transferred to the SARRP irradiator with on-board CBCT. MRI/CBCT co-registration was performed to enable radiotherapy planning using the soft-tissue contrast afforded by MRI prior to delivery of radiotherapy (5 Gy). Tumour response was assessed by serial MRI and calliper measurement.
The study results show that MR images allowed clear delineations of tumours successfully registered with CBCT images allowing conformal radiotherapy to be delivered. MRI-based precision radiotherapy was conducted with the help of SARRP by Xstrahl.
To find out more about the science being conducted with Xstrahl Life Science systems you can investigate Xstrahl’s SARRP for the latest developments. Additionally, you can find out how Xstrahl Medical systems are being used to treat a series of conditions.
This Xstrahl In Action was adapted from a article found on a National Library of Medicine website.
