A team of researchers from The University of Manchester (Manchester,UK;www.manchester.ac.uk)and The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR, London,UK; www,icr.ac.uk) have achieved a breakthrough by combining two cutting edge technologies: an MRI scanner that also delivers radiotherapy - called MR-Linac - to measure the oxygen levels in tumors.

ldentifying cancers that are deprived of oxygen can aid in tailoring effective, targeted treatments for such tumors. Oxygen-enhanced MRI, as the technique is called, was able to distinguish between tumor portions with different oxygen levels;areas with good oxygenation showed varied responses compared to those that were oxygen-depleted,thereby helping to identify the sections of the tumor that were starved of oxygen and may be resistant to radiotherapy.

Image:New scan measures tumor oxygen levels in real-time to help guide treatment (Photo courtesy of ICR)