Pilot Investigation of Ultrasound Cell Death Imaging and Spectroscopy as Early Indicators of Response to Radiation Treatment in Prostate, Rectum and Head and Neck Cancers, and to Characterize Prostate Masses
Our objective in this study is to identify an optimal ultrasound spectroscopy parameter that can be used as an early predictor of pathological complete or partial response in men with prostate cancer and men and women with rectum and head and neck cancers receiving treatment radiotherapy. We have previously demonstrated that high-frequency ultrasound and spectroscopy, and recently conventional-frequency ultrasound and spectroscopy may be used to detect cell death in vitro, in situ and in vivo. The method can detect different forms of cell death and has been demonstrated to be sensitive to apoptotic, necrotic and mitotic cell death. The main goal, as described above, is to select the best ultrasound spectroscopy parameter to use as an early predictor of pathological complete response
• (1) Histologically or cytologically confirmed prostate, rectum and head and neck carcinoma which has not been treated with any first-line therapy and will be treated with radiation therapy
• (2) Measurable disease by ultrasound, or MRI performed within 28 days prior to treatment
• (3) Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0 or 1
• (4) Life expectancy of at least 6 months
• (5) Adequate bone marrow, liver and renal function as assessed by the following laboratory requirements to be conducted within 7 days prior to dosing:
• (i) hemoglobin \>90 mg/dL (ii) leukocytes \>3,000/mL (iii) absolute neutrophil count \>1,500/mL (iv) platelets \>100,000/mL (v) total bilirubin within normal institutional limits (vi) AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) \<2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal (vii) creatinine within normal institutional limits or creatinine clearance \>60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional upper limit of normal
• (6) Patients should have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. Signed informed consent must be obtained prior to any study specific procedures