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Therapy response with diffusion MRI: an update.
Lauren J Bains1, Martin Zweifel, Harriet C Thoeny
1Department of Diagnostic, Interventional, and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) offers early, non-invasive assessment of oncological treatment response by evaluating tumour function. This technique provides insights into cellular microstructure, aiding in timely treatment adjustments for better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Current oncological treatment assessment relies on morphological criteria (e.g., tumor size) or plasma biomarkers, which provide response insights weeks or months after therapy initiation.
- Early assessment of treatment response is crucial for newer targeted and fractionated therapies, enabling timely adjustments for non-responding patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the principles of Diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI).
- To explore the application of DW-MRI in monitoring and predicting tumor response to various oncological treatments.
- To highlight the potential of DW-MRI as an early indicator of treatment efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) principles are explained.
- A literature review of studies utilizing DW-MRI for treatment response assessment in oncology is presented.
Main Results:
- DW-MRI is a non-invasive imaging technique sensitive to tissue microstructure and cellular function.
- DW-MRI parameters have demonstrated sensitivity to treatment response across various tumor types and organ sites.
- DW-MRI shows potential as a predictive tool for treatment outcomes.
Conclusions:
- DW-MRI provides an earlier, non-invasive method for assessing oncological treatment response compared to traditional methods.
- DW-MRI's sensitivity to tumor function offers valuable insights for treatment monitoring and prediction.
- The review supports the growing role of DW-MRI in personalized cancer therapy.

