MSK 2017 Medical Student Summer Fellowship Program

1. PROJECT TITLE:
Correlation of pretreatment PET imaging with MR imaging parameters and clinical response to BTK
inhibition in recurrent/refractory Central Nervous System Lymphoma

2. 2017 Project Dates:

June 12 – August 18

3. PROJECT TYPE:
Clinical Research

4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
To date, 31 patients have been enrolled into this project’s clinical trial. This trial evaluates the clinical
efficacy of the Bruton Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor Ibrutinib in patients with recurrent/refractory central
nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. All trial participants underwent a pre-treatment PET brain and MRI
scan. So far, we have observed that 75% of patients enrolled in this trial have responded to drug
treatment.

The aim of this project proposal is to determine the correlation of pre-treatment PET and MRI values with
response to ibrutinib in this patient population. Our student will learn to use dedicated software to
measure average and maximum standardized update value (SUV), SUVmean and SUVmax, and metabolic
tumor volume (MTV) of the brain lesion in the entire cohort. Under the supervision of the student’s faculty
sponsor, the student will use the measured values together with previously collected MRI parameters to
determine correlation with clinical outcome and overall response rate.

5. STUDENT’S ROLE ON PROJECT

The student will be responsible for collecting, consolidating, and managing all imaging data. This consists
of measuring and calculating the region of interest for tumor lesions within the PET scans, and compiling
this data into presentable figures, while investigating correlations between clinical outcome and lesion
qualities. Lastly, the student will interpret this data for potential prognostic use for patients with Primary
CNS lymphoma.

Desired previous skills or experiences include: the student should be versed in neuro-anatomy.

6. % DISTRIBUTION OF PROJECT-RELATED ACTIVITIES

Laboratory Research 0%
Clinical Research 80%
Clinical Activities (time attending clinics, shadowing, and/or OR observation) 10%
Didactics (Lab, DMT meetings, and/or other weekly conferences) 10%