Novel MRI Techniques for Pancreatic Cancer

The purpose of this study is to optimize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences for imaging pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and correlate MRI biomarkers with the expression of the tumor suppressor gene SMAD4 and clinical outcomes with the goal of identifying which biomarkers are predictive of treatment response or non-response. This study will test magnetic resonance techniques on FDA approved clinical MRI machines in treatment-naïve patients with biopsy-proven PDAC.

Specific Aims

1. To optimize the following multiparametric MRI sequences for imaging of Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC): Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL), Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD), Magnetization Transfer (MT), and reduced field-of-view Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI, including low b-values for intravoxel incoherent motion measurements and high b-values for Diffusion Kurtosis analysis).
2. To measure these MRI biomarkers in 20 treatment-naïve patients with biopsy-proven PDAC who have been referred to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) Pancreatic Cancer Program for neoadjuvant chemo-radiation therapy (CRT).
3. To correlate these MRI biomarkers with histopathology, i.e. the expression of the tumor suppressor gene SMAD4 and clinical outcomes with the goal of identifying which biomarkers are predictive of treatment response or non-response.

The investigators hypothesize the following:

1. It is feasible to develop dedicated MRI protocols with novel MRI techniques including Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL), Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD), Magnetization Transfer (MT), and reduced field-of-view Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI), and to develop appropriate evaluation methods.
2. The implementation of these new protocols and evaluation methods in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) provide biomarkers which correlate with histology and outcome in treatment-naïve patients.
3. The biomarkers are also predictive of therapy response in patients with PDAC during neoadjuvant chemo-radiation therapy (CRT) and correlate with the expression of the tumor suppressor gene SMAD4.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult male or female patient 18 years of age or older;
* Patient presenting with treatment-naïve, biopsy-proven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC);
* Patient qualifying for neoadjuvant chemo-radiation therapy;
* Patient able and willing to participate in the study;
* Patient must sign the informed consent form in order to participate after the nature of the study has been fully explained to them and any questions they might have are adequately answered.
* eGFR levels greater than or equal to 30 mL/min/1.73m2 before contrast administration.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient previously-received or receiving treatment for PDAC at time of enrollment;
* Inability to understand or follow study instructions
* Diagnosed by a nutritionist with severe malnutrition;
* Unintentional weight loss of 20% or more throughout study;
* BMI of \< 18.5;
* Patients with a contraindication to MRI examinations will be excluded from this study.
* Pregnancy
* Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) levels \< 30 mL/min/1.73m2