IMAGINE eradicating metastatic cancer through image guided therapies
How can scientists and clinicians tell if cancer treatments are working if they can't see the tumour inside the body? Research has discovered many life saving treatments for a variety of types of cancer, but many patients who benefit from the extended life of these treatments can experience challenges we're working to avoid.
Imaging is a key component in emerging research and patient treatment to ablate residual metastatic tumours in a range of cancers including prostate, lung, breast, head and neck, and melanoma and skin. International and Australian researchers and clinicians will highlight advances in targeting and monitoring the efficacy of immunotherapies; and improving the outcome for cancer patients who undertake radiotherapy at IMAGINE 2017 at the Translational Research Institute on 5 & 6 September.
Recent advances in imaging technologies, such as MRI PET and the Prisma, are leading to improvements in treating cancer patients by improving the ability to assess the extent of the disease; tumour metabolism and response to treatment.
MRI PET can better monitor the success of immunotherapies and other targeted
therapies in cancer patients. It can distinguish between growth of the tumours and
inflammation caused by the therapies attacking the cancer.
Advanced imaging technology is enabling clinicians to greatly improve the targeting of the beam, in radiotherapy, through the ability to see tumours in vivo. This enables clinicians to better direct dosage; increase potency; reduce the number of treatments; and reduce the collateral damage, which is one of the things that patients advise impacts their ongoing health and happiness. This is particularly important for head and neck cancers as shown in the current pilot trial by Dr Fiona Simpson where imaging is used to assess the impact of the treatment.
At IMAGINE 2017 leading researcher clinicians from Brisbane’s two major hospitals, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and the Princess Alexandra Hospitals will explain the successes and challenges of introducing these new technologies into clinical practice and changing the practice of cancer treatment globally.
