Navigating Neuro-Oncology: Understanding Pseudoprogression and Harnessing PsP Outcomes for Optimal Imaging Assessment
Most brain cancer diagnoses in the United States are glioma, and our webinar explores the challenges and potential solutions for assessing these tumors. These primary brain tumors can present in the form of gliomas (both low-grade glioma and glioblastoma). Oftentimes glioma can be debilitating to patients with a poor prognosis and limited treatment. New therapies are being studied through clinical trials, many of which use response criteria such as RANO (Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology). Pseudoprogression (PsP) occurs when enhancement on imaging may be interpreted as progression but is actually an effect of the treatment and is not considered true progression. PsP has proven a challenge for many researchers and radiologists.
In our webinar, Dr. Chad Farris, MD, PhD, and Gene Kim, PharmD share thoughts on assessing PsP and reader challenges and discuss how to incorporate accurate outcomes and collect high-quality data in clinical trials.
Learn 3 key takeaways:
- Definition of pseudoprogression in neuro-oncology
- Outcomes associated with pseudoprogression and its implications to RANO2.0, RANO, iRANO, mRANO
- How to assess pseudoprogression in data collection for clinical trials
Catherine Chintala, PMPDIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, ONCOLOGY
Catherine Chintala works at MERIT as a Project Manager in our oncology division. With 20 years of experience working in clinical trials and the CRO industry, she has expertise managing oncology clinical trials from start up to close out. Catherine works closely with sponsors, designing and implementing processes to meet project timelines and helping to ensure study needs are clearly communicated across key stakeholders. Drawing upon her experience in a variety of indications and response criteria, Catherine can partner with your team to help make your clinical trial a success.
Dr. Chad Farris, MD, PhD, is a board-certified neuroradiologist. He is an attending neuroradiologist at Boston Medical Center and an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. He has expertise and particular interest in neuro-oncology, head and neck trauma, and neuroimaging for assessment of cognitive impairment. Dr. Farris has expertise in utilization of neuroimaging for diagnosis and treatment response assessment of patients with brain tumors in both routine clinical practice and using established research criteria such as RANO and its derivatives. Dr. Farris completed his medical school and graduate school at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. He completed diagnostic radiology residency at Boston University Medical Center and a neuroradiology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
Gene Kim, PharmDASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AFFAIRS & INNOVATION, ONCOLOGY
Gene is MERIT’s Associate Director of Medical Affairs & Innovation for our oncology division. He provides subject matter expertise and helps design and configure MERIT’s flexible oncology reading platform to accommodate various reading paradigms. Gene has experience in evidence-based patient care and academic research, a background in pharmacy, and 6 years supporting clinical trials. He implements software workflows to support oncology trials with response criteria such as RECIST 1.1, iRECIST, Lugano, and RANO, and helps to increase the efficiency and accuracy of clinical data collection for imaging endpoints. Gene received his Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has a bachelor’s degree in Neurobiology.