Voxel-based analysis: Roadmap for clinical translation(172 views) Mcwilliam A, Palma G, Abravan A, Acosta O, Appelt A, Aznar M, Monti S, Onjukka E, Panettieri V, Placidi L, Rancati T, Vasquez Osorio E, Witte M, Cella L
The Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK. Electronic address: alan.mcwilliam@manchester.ac.uk.
Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council, Lecce, Italy. Electronic address: giuseppe.palma@ibb.cnr.it.
University Rennes, CLCC Eugène Marquis, INSERM, LTSI - UMR 1099, F-35000, Rennes, France.
Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Naples, Italy.
Department of Medical Radiation Physics and Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden.
Department of Physical Sciences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Data Science Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy.
Department of Radiation Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
References: Not available.
Voxel-based analysis: Roadmap for clinical translation
Voxel-based analysis (VBA) allows the full, 3-dimensional, dose distribution to be considered in radiotherapy outcome analysis. This provides new insights into anatomical variability of pathophysiology and radiosensitivity by removing the need for a priori definition of organs assumed to drive the dose response associated with patient outcomes. This approach may offer powerful biological insights demonstrating the heterogeneity of the radiobiology across tissues and potential associations of the radiotherapy dose with further factors. As this methodological approach becomes established, consideration needs to be given to translating VBA results to clinical implementation for patient benefit. Here, we present a comprehensive roadmap for VBA clinical translation. Technical validation needs to demonstrate robustness to methodology, where clinical validation must show generalisability to external datasets and link to a plausible pathophysiological hypothesis. Finally, clinical utility requires demonstration of potential benefit for patients in order for successful translation to be feasible. For each step on the roadmap, key considerations are discussed and recommendations provided for best practice.
Voxel-based analysis: Roadmap for clinical translation