This is a prospective pilot study funded by the NIHR. Healthy participants and patients will be recruited in The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and will be asked to undergo oxygen-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (OE-MRI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI). This study builds on the work recently been completed in lung cancer. Clinical data will be collected from patients notes.~Tumour hypoxia is common in solid tumours and associated with poor response to radiotherapy, poor loco-regional control and survival outcomes in head and neck cancer. There is a need to develop non-invasive tests that can measure tumour hypoxia to improve radiotherapy for these patients. The study will involve 3 components:~Reproducibility and feasibility: The reproducibility of OE-MRI in head and neck cancer is unknown. Ten healthy participants will be asked to undergo two baseline OE-MRI scans with either nasal cannula or facial mask to breathe air and oxygen throughout. The order of which non-invasive breathing method will be used first will be randomized.~Following this initial pilot OE-MRI will be tested in 30 patients with solid head and neck tumours. To assess reproducibility in patients 2 OE-MRI will be performed at baseline.~Effect of radiotherapy on tumour and normal tissue: OE-MRI and DCE-MRI signals will be measured at baseline before standard radiotherapy treatment begins and at the end of week 2 week and week 4 following the start of radiotherapy. Comparison of hypoxia measurements will be taken.~Biological validation: All 30 patients will undergo a diagnostic biopsy as standard of care at their local hospital. Tissue samples will be requested and multi-gene hypoxia signatures will be tested. OE-MRI signals will be compared with tissue sample from the same patient and the presence of changes in tumour known to be associated with hypoxia will be analysed.
This is a prospective pilot study to investigate the potential clinical value of oxygen-enhanced magnetic resonance (OE-MRI) biomarkers in head and neck radiotherapy.