Feasibility of whole-body MRI for cancer surveillance in children and young people with Ataxia Telangiectasia
A new research study taking place in Nottingham could offer early detection of cancer in children and young people with Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T)
The CATNAP2 study is being led by Professor Rob Dineen and Renata Neves, Senior MRI Radiographer, at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH). NUH is a national centre for the specialist care of children with A-T, a rare genetic disease which affects around 200 families in the UK. Among the symptoms, children with the disease can become more susceptible to cancers including leukaemia and lung infections.
The research is using whole body MRI scanning to potentially detect cancers in patients with A-T before symptoms appear.
Speaking about the research, Renata explained that the team in Nottingham is testing out the feasibility of using MRI which could ultimately lead to changes in the way patients are diagnosed in the future. She said: “The results of this study will help to support the development of large trials to test this approach. Large trials are needed before clinical guidelines can change. If successful, there will be good case for making regular whole body MRI scan part of the standard care for cancer surveillance in A-T.”
As part of the research, children, and young people with A-T, and their families, are invited to Nottingham to have their whole body MRI scans. Researchers will assess their experience and conduct interviews with the participants.
The team has already been working to understand how people with AT and their families feel about using MRI and participating in a cancer surveillance programme. They expect to publish the results later this year.
To find out more information or get involved please contact: CATNAP2@nottingham.ac.uk.
The CATNAP study follows research into a potential new treatment for AT also undertaken by researchers at NUH. The ATTeST study is assessing the effectiveness of Intra-Erytrhcyte Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate a therapy which does not yet have full regulatory approval for use in the UK, but preliminary results from the research so far have proved promising: https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/latest-news/compassionate-use-boost-for-children-of-families-living-with-a-rare-disease-6447
About Research & Innovation at Nottingham University Hospitals
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the biggest and busiest acute hospitals in England, employing over 18,000 staff. We provide care to over 2.5 million residents of Nottingham and its surrounding communities and specialist services to a further 3-4 million people from neighbouring counties.
We have national and international reputations for specialist services such as stroke, renal, spinal, breast, neurosciences, cancer services and trauma.
We are one of the most research-active Trusts in the country with world-leading clinical research delivered across our hospitals and through our NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, which is translating research discoveries into new treatments for common diseases including asthma and arthritis. Central to our research is our expertise in Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
To find out more about our hospitals, please visit our website www.nuh.nhs.uk/research
You can also follow @ResearchNUH on Twitter.