Functional imaging for individualized cancer treatment

This project focuses on the value of preoperative advanced imaging to provide functional and morphological tumor characteristics relevant for treatment and prognosis in cancer. Endometrial cancer and uterine cervical cancer are common pelvic gynecologic malignancies and there is an immediate need for accurate preoperative tumor assessments to safely individualize therapy. Overtreatment of early stage disease and poor survival in metastatic disease partially relates to lack of predictive preoperative imaging markers. Gynecologic cancer patients prospectively subjected to preoperative functional imaging by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) / computed tomography (CT), are studied to identify novel imaging biomarkers. In parallel tumor tissue of the same patients are analyzed for genetic and molecular markers in relation to clinical findings and outcome. The research group has extensive experience in preoperative imaging in the context of clinical trials and tissue markers. This research platform allows for novel comparison between advanced functional imaging findings and genetic, molecular, metabolic and angiogenic characteristics of the corresponding tumor tissue. Building on previous experience, this current project will explore functional imaging findings in gynecologic cancer patients in relation to surgical staging results, outcome, and genetic and molecular tumor markers.

In gynecologic cancer there is an immediate need for accurate preoperative tumor assessments to safely individualize therapy. Overtreatment of early stage disease and poor survival in metastatic disease partially relates to lack of predictive preoperative imaging markers. Gynecologic cancer patients prospectively subjected to preoperative imaging by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) / computed tomography (CT), are studied to identify novel imaging biomarkers relevant for prognosis and treatment. In parallel tumor tissue of the same patients are analyzed for genetic and molecular markers in relation to clinical findings and outcome. Furthermore, the research group has recently established orthotopic mouse endometrial cancer models derived from cell lines and from patient derived biopsies. These models will be studied by optical imaging, MRI and PET-CT during disease progression. Functional imaging characteristics will be explored in these animal models and studied in relation to corresponding molecular characteristics of the tumor. The research group has extensive experience with preoperative imaging in the context of clinical trials and tissue markers in gynecologic cancer. This research platform allows for novel comparison between advanced functional imaging findings and genetic, molecular, metabolic and angiogenic characteristics of the corresponding tumor tissue. Building on previous experience, the current project will explore functional imaging findings in gynecologic cancer in patients and in animal models in relation to stage, outcome, and genetic and molecular tumor markers. The overall aim of the project is to provide improved imaging tools with which to identify high-risk patients and disease progression, and thus facilitate better individualized treatment, reduced morbidity and implementation of targeted therapy in gynecologic cancer patients.