Second Whole-Body MRI Reader Program May Improve LFS Report Accuracy

CancerNetwork® spoke with Lisa J. States, MD, chair of the “Early Detection and Screening: Radiology” session at the 7th International Li-Fraumeni Syndrome Association (LFSA) Symposium, about further steps for improving early detection of and screening for cancers in patients with LFS.

States, a professor of Clinical Radiology at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as director of the Section of Oncologic Imaging and the endowed chair in Molecular Imaging at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, began by expressing interest in conference presentations on liquid biopsy evaluating tumor DNA fragments in the blood.^1,2 These presentations took place in a cell-free DNA–specific detection and screening session following the conclusion of the radiology session. She suggested that liquid biopsy can improve screening of patients and detection of cancers in this population when combined with whole-body MRI.

States then explained that the inclusion of a second reader for whole-body MRI testing may help improve early detection and screening methods in this population. She noted that 2 speakers who presented during the radiology session discussed utilizing a second reader on study, which she suggests may improve the accuracy of whole-body MRI reports in patients with LFS.^3,4

Transcript:

What was interesting [was] the session after the radiology session [discussed] liquid biopsy, which is evaluating tumor DNA fragments in the blood. That is promising. If we can combine liquid biopsy with imaging, we can improve how we screen patients and the detection of cancer. One of the other things that we can do now is [have] at least 1 other interpreter of the whole-body MRI. Both groups–– both speakers––that talked about radiology talked about having a second reader for the studies, and that does improve the accuracy of the report. That is one thing that we can take away from this: to encourage a second reader program.

References

1. Crompton BD. Building a path to clinical validation of liquid biopsies for cancer screening in cancer risk syndromes. Presented at the 7th International Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) Association Symposium; October 19-22, 2024; Philadelphia, PA.
2. MacFarland S. Liquid biopsy in Li-Fraumeni syndrome: Moving towards clinical trial. Presented at the 7th International Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) Association Symposium; October 19-22, 2024; Philadelphia, PA.
3. Greer M-L. Whole-body MRI screening in infants, children and adolescents with LFS. Presented at the 7th International Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) Association Symposium; October 19-22, 2024; Philadelphia, PA.
4. Katona B. Gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancer screening in Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Presented at the 7th International Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) Association Symposium; October 19-22, 2024; Philadelphia, PA.