Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Biological Image-Guided Adaptive Radiotherapy

• Main Authors: Petra J. van Houdt, Yingli Yang, Uulke A. van der Heide
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-01-01
• Series: Frontiers in Oncology
• Subjects: quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); biological image-guided adaptive radiotherapy; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided radiotherapy; functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); treatment response
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2020.615643/full

MRI-guided radiotherapy systems have the potential to bring two important concepts in modern radiotherapy together: adaptive radiotherapy and biological targeting. Based on frequent anatomical and functional imaging, monitoring the changes that occur in volume, shape as well as biological characteristics, a treatment plan can be updated regularly to accommodate the observed treatment response. For this purpose, quantitative imaging biomarkers need to be identified that show changes early during treatment and predict treatment outcome. This review provides an overview of the current evidence on quantitative MRI measurements during radiotherapy and their potential as an imaging biomarker on MRI-guided radiotherapy systems.