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Development of a Clinical CEST MR Fingerprinting Method for Treatment Response Assessment in Brain Metastases

Award Number: R37CA262662
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2027

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Development of a Clinical CEST MR Fingerprinting Method for Treatment Response Assessment in Brain Metastases - Project Summary/Abstract Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI uses selective radio-frequency (RF) pulses to saturate the magnetization of exchangeable protons on a variety of molecules and macromolecules, including proteins, which, due to fast chemical exchange with bulk water, results in a decreased water MRI signal. The CEST contrast depends on the chemical exchange rate (kex), which is pH sensitive, and the volume fraction of the exchangeable proton pool (fs) that is sensitive to protein and metabolite concentrations. The sensitivity of CEST MRI to pH and protein/metabolite concentrations has proven to be a powerful tool for imaging a wide range of disease pathologies. For example, the amide proton CEST contrast from endogenous proteins has been used to distinguish pseudo-progression from true progression in malignant gliomas, differentiate between radiation necrosis and tumor progression, and image the tumor's extracellular pH. However, clinical translation of these CEST-MRI methods has been hindered by the qualitative nature of the image contrast, long image acquisition times, and the complex data processing required. Efficient methods for quantification of kex and fs are needed to produce high-quality pH and volume fraction maps required to move many of these studies forward into the clinic. In this proposal a CEST magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) method that enables accurate quantification of both proton exchange rates and volume fractions in a fraction of the time required by conventional pulse sequences will be developed and optimized. These novel techniques exploit deep learning methods to enable the simultaneous quantification of multiple tissue maps from a single measurement. The improved CEST-MRF method will enable the acquisition of accurate pH, water T1 and T2, and protein/metabolite concentration maps in acquisition times of less than 5 minutes. The sequence will be adapted to a clinical scanner, and a novel multi- slice method will be implemented to obtain whole brain coverage (Aim 1). Next the CEST-MRF acquisition schedule will be optimized to maximize the parameter map discrimination and accuracy using a deep learning approach for the parameter map reconstruction. The parameter map reconstructions in normal human subjects will be validated with conventional CEST and test-retest studies (Aim 2). Lastly, the optimized CEST-MRF method will be used to evaluate the change in the quantitative parameter maps before and after radiation therapy to assess the potential role of CEST-MRF maps as predictive imaging biomarkers for brain metastases (Aim 3).


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $693,184 )
2025	2025	SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH	1275 YORK AVE	NEW YORK	NY	10065	NEW YORK	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	000	4	7/31/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$693,184
														Subtotal = $693,184

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $658,526 )
2024	2024	SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH	1275 YORK AVE	NEW YORK	NY	10065	NEW YORK	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	001	3	7/8/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$658,526
2024	2023	SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH	1275 YORK AVENUE	NEW YORK	NY	10065	NEW YORK	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	000	2	4/5/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $658,526

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $679,319 )
2023	2023	SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH	1275 YORK AVE	NEW YORK	NY	10065	NEW YORK	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	000	2	3/24/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$679,319
														Subtotal = $679,319

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $707,865 )
2022	2022	SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH	1275 YORK AVE	NEW YORK	NY	10065	NEW YORK	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	000	1	3/16/2022	NEW	$707,865
														Subtotal = $707,865

Grand Total All Awards = $2,738,894

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Development of a Clinical CEST MR Fingerprinting Method for Treatment Response Assessment in Brain Metastases

Award Number: R37CA262662

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2027

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