Functional MRI of Hypoxia-mediated Rectal Cancer Aggressiveness

Functional MRI of Hypoxia-mediated Rectal Cancer Aggressiveness

The purpose of this study is to establish a reliable method for detection of rectal cancer patients with aggressive tumor at risk of metastatic disease and death by functional MRI.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The patient is willing and able to give full written consent according to the protocol approved by the Regional Ethics Committee.
• The patient has confirmed rectal cancer diagnosis and is scheduled to radical surgery alone or preoperative CRT followed by surgery.
• The patient is ≥ 18 years.
• The patient has no prior rectal cancer treatment.
• The patient has adequate renal function: creatinine clearance ≥ 60 ml/minute.
• The patient has signed the written informed consent according to the protocol approved by the Regional Ethics Committee.

Exclusion Criteria:

• The patient has contraindication to MRI or MRI contrast agent according to clinical practice.
• The patient wants to withdraw for any reason during the study.