Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy

Previous and current research
MRI is widely used for imaging cancer, whilst MR spectroscopy (MRS) has the unique ability to measure the chemical content of living tissue repeatedly and non-invasively, permitting investigations of tumour physiology, biochemistry and response to treatment. My research group, which introduced the use of MRS to cancer research in 1981, develops and tests MRS and MRI methods that will aid in the understanding and therapy of cancer.

Current research topics include:

• Studies on tumour energy metabolism, physiology and pH, particularly the HIF-1 oxygen sensing pathway using genetically manipulated and RNAi inhibited cell lines and tumours.
• Monitoring tumour oxygenation and Vessel Size Index by Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) contrast methods.
• Monitoring the pharmacodynamics (and in some cases the pharmacokinetics) of novel anticancer drugs by MRS and MRI methods in the search for biomarkers of response.
• Development of methods for tumour blood flow/permeability (by DCE-MRI) and oxygenation (by BOLD contrast) for monitoring the actions of drugs on the tumour vasculature.
• Clinical ¹H MRS of brain tumours for the development of a pattern recognition method to assist in diagnosis and grading (this now forms part of the EU eTumour programme).
• Studies on the abnormal metabolomes of cancer cells by monitoring the effects of genetic modifications or to study drugs targeted on specific gene products.

Future projects:

• Cancer metabolomics for biopsy analysis and response to therapy.
• Monitoring oedema, apoptosis and necrosis in cancer therapy.
• Investigating the HIF pathway and pathways that bypass HIF in cancer cells.
• Translating preclinical MR methods into a clinical setting.
• Clinical studies on breast, gynaecological and prostate cancer.