Non-Invasive Targeted Hepatic Irradiation and SPECT/CT Functional Imaging to Study Radiation-Induced Liver Damage in...

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary oncology
• Radiation oncology
• Pre-clinical research

Background:

• Radiation therapy (RT) is underutilized for liver cancer due to concerns about radiation-induced liver disease (RILD).
• Existing animal models for liver irradiation are often invasive or lack precision.
• A translational model is needed for targeted liver irradiation with image guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a non-invasive, image-guided animal model for targeted hepatic irradiation.
• To investigate the early development of region-specific RILD using this novel model.

Main Methods:

• Development of a targeted hepatic irradiation model on the Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP).
• Utilized contrast-enhanced cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for image guidance.
• Assessed RILD development using functional single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging.

Main Results:

• Successfully established a non-invasive, image-guided model for targeted liver irradiation in pre-clinical settings.
• Demonstrated the early development of region-specific RILD.
• Validated the utility of SPECT imaging for assessing functional liver changes post-irradiation.

Conclusions:

• The developed SARRP-based model provides a significant advancement for studying liver tolerance to RT.
• This model facilitates a better understanding of RILD mechanisms and the development of targeted cancer therapies.
• Non-invasive, image-guided irradiation is feasible and crucial for translational research in hepatic malignancies.