Assessing bone marrow engraftment in young leukaemia patients using MRI

Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Bone Marrow in a Paediatric Population With Leukaemia (PUMA)

Observational Institute of Cancer Research, United Kingdom · NCT03466944

This study is testing how well bone marrow from a transplant works in young leukemia patients by using MRI scans before and a few weeks after their treatment.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment12 (estimated)
Ages5 Years to 24 Years
SexAll
SponsorInstitute of Cancer Research, United Kingdom Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsradiation
Locations1 site (Sutton, Surrey)
Trial IDNCT03466944 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This pilot observational study aims to evaluate the engraftment of bone marrow in paediatric patients with leukaemia following haemopoietic stem cell transplantation. It involves performing functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine and pelvis at baseline and 2-3 weeks post-transplantation to measure changes in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). The study will include 12 patients aged 5-24 years who are scheduled for transplantation, with the goal of enhancing understanding of bone marrow features on imaging and improving patient management. MRI scans will be conducted without radiation exposure, and results will be shared with referring consultants immediately.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are cooperative paediatric patients aged 5-24 years with relapsed or high-risk acute leukaemia scheduled for stem cell transplantation.

Not a fit: Patients with contraindications to MRI, such as ferromagnetic implants or claustrophobia, will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a new biomarker for assessing successful clinical outcomes in young leukaemia patients post-transplantation.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is novel in its specific application to paediatric leukaemia, similar imaging techniques have shown promise in other contexts.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. All patients with relapsed or high risk acute lymphoblastic or myeloblastic leukaemia planned for haemopoietic stem cell transplantation
2. Cooperative paediatric individuals and young adults (5-24-years-old) not requiring general anaesthesia or sedation for the purpose of MRI
3. Able to lie flat throughout the scan

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Non cooperative patients
2. Ferromagnetic implants, contraindicating MRI
3. Claustrophobia
4. Unable to lie flat throughout the scan
5. Uncertain histological diagnosis
6. Musculoskeletal disorders
7. Metabolic disorders
8. Lack of signed parental consent and patient's verbal approval

Where this trial is running

Sutton, Surrey

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions LeukaemiaMagnetic Resonance ImagingWhole-Body DiffusionWeighted-Magnetic Resonance ImagingPaediatrics
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.