Assessing Pre-Treatment Metabolic Profiles in High-Risk DLBCL via Hyperpolarized 13C-Pyruvate MR Spectroscopy

Motivation: The study addresses the need for early detection of treatment response in high-risk diffuse large B cell lymphoma, where traditional methods based on tumor size are inadequate. Goal(s): The study aims to validate 13C-Pyruvate DNP MR spectroscopy as a sensitive technique for early evaluation of treatment efficacy in lymphoma patients. Approach: Utilizing 13C MRS, the research monitors the metabolic conversion of 13C-labeled pyruvate to lactate, reflecting the treatment's impact on the tumor's metabolic activity. Results: Preliminary data from three patients show different metabolic rates, indicating the potential of this method to discern early treatment responses, leading to more timely and effective clinical decisions. Impact: These results could revolutionize protocols for lymphoma by enabling earlier assessment of therapy efficacy, thus informing more timely adjustments to treatment strategies. This advancement may spur further metabolic research and ultimately improving survival rates and quality of life for patients.