Renal CancerRIMNCT07173140
Renal Tumour Imaging Using MRI
A study testing MRI in people with Renal Cancer and MRI, run by University College, London at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
This study investigates whether new types of MRI scans can tell the difference between different kidney tumours before surgery. Currently, imaging scans can detect kidney tumours and their size, but they aren't effective at determining the tumour type or its aggressiveness. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Renal Cancer, MRI, Small Renal Mass
- What is being tested?
- MRI
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 20 Nov 2024to 30 Sep 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 18 and over
- Confirmed renal tumour ≤ 7 cm planned for surgical resection
- Willing and able to provide written informed consent
- Able to lie supine for the duration of an MRI
Who cannot join
- Contraindication to MRI e.g., cardiac pacemaker
- Contraindication to MR contrast agents
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Deranged renal function (eGFR <30) in the last three months.
- Previous treatment of the renal tumour e.g., ablation, radiotherapy
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: A Two Site Pilot Study of Functional and Microstructural Imaging Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Renal Tumours
This study investigates whether new types of MRI scans can tell the difference between different kidney tumours before surgery. Currently, imaging scans can detect kidney tumours and their size, but they aren't effective at determining the tumour type or its aggressiveness. Biopsies are an option, but they are invasive and may miss important cancerous cells. The aim is to use imaging to determine which tumours are aggressive so they can be treated early while avoiding unnecessary treatment of benign tumours.
Patients with small renal tumours (≤ 7 cm) who meet the other inclusion and exclusion criteria will be asked to have an additional MRI scan at University College London Hospital prior to surgery.
Read more
The imaging findings will be compared to the histology result from the removed tumour. In 10 patients the histology will be targeted to a specific location in the tumour based on the imaging. 10 patients will undergo a repeat MRI <14 d apart to test whether the MRI scans can give the same answer twice (the test repeatability).
The study is expected to run for 24 months and is funded by NIHR.
The chief investigator for the study is Dr Richard Hesketh (rhesketh@ucl.ac.uk).
- Conditions
- Renal Cancer, MRI, Small Renal Mass, Kidney Cancers
- Being tested
- MRI
- Keywords
- Renal cancer, MRI, Small Renal Mass, Kidney Cancer
- Medical subject headings
- Kidney Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
MRIDiagnostic test
Participants undergo an additional MRI scan using novel MRI sequences
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Histological characterisation of renal tumours | No intervention | Histological samples of ten patients with tumour histology will be retreived from the Royal Free Hospital Biobank. Slides will be stained using H\&E and CD34 and cell size, stromal space and vascularity will be estimated and used to inform diffusion weighted imaging models. |
| Comparison of microstructural MRI to histology | Experimental | 10 patients with small renal tumours will undergo microstructural MRI. Following MRI the tumours will be surgically resected. The MRI will be co-registered with histology. The degree of correlation between the MRI and underlying histology will be determined. Receives: Diagnostic Test: MRI |
| Repeatability of MRI of small renal masses | Experimental | The repeatability of the MRI scan of the small renal mass will be determined by participants undergoing a repeat MRI examination shortly after the first (within 14 d) on the same scanner. Receives: Diagnostic Test: MRI |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Diagnostic accuracy of proton density fat fraction (PDFF) to differentiate different histological subtypes of renal tumours.
PDFF mean values will be calculated for each tumour in arms 2 and 3. Following surgery the means for each histological subtype will be calculated and tested for statistical significance.
Measured: 1 year
Repeatability of proton density fat fraction (PDFF) measurements.
Participants in arm 3 will undergo repeat scanning with a short time interval between scans. The repeatability of PDFF measurements will be assessed using within subject standard deviation, repeatability coefficients and Bland-Altman analysis.
Measured: 1 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Sep 2025
- Study start20 Nov 2024
- Primary completion19 Jun 2025
- Study completion30 Sep 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Renal CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University College, LondonThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University College, London
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, University College London Hospitals
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07173140
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 162190
- Acronym
- RIM
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 18 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 15 Sep 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes
Publications
Sen S, Smith L, Caselton L, Clemente J, Tran M, Punwani S, Atkinson D, Hesketh RL, Panagiotaki E. Dual deep learning approach for non-invasive renal tumour subtyping with VERDICT-MRI. Npj Imaging. 2026 Jan 6;4(1):2. doi: 10.1038/s44303-025-00135-6.
PubMed 41495369
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Sep 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Two Site Pilot Study of Functional and Microstructural Imaging Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Renal Tumours
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07173140
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RIM / 162190
- Conditions
- Renal Cancer, MRI, Small Renal Mass, Kidney Cancers
- Keywords
- Renal cancer, MRI, Small Renal Mass, Kidney Cancer
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University College, LondonUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, University College London Hospitals
- Study start
- 20 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 19 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study investigates whether new types of MRI scans can tell the difference between different kidney tumours before surgery. Currently, imaging scans can detect kidney tumours and their size, but they aren't effective at determining the tumour type or its aggressiveness. Biopsies are an option, but they are invasive and may miss important cancerous cells. The aim is to use imaging to determine which tumours are aggressive so they can be treated early while avoiding unnecessary treatment of benign tumours.
Patients with small renal tumours (≤ 7 cm) who meet the other inclusion and exclusion criteria will be asked to have an additional MRI scan at University College London Hospital prior to surgery.
The imaging findings will be compared to the histology result from the removed tumour. In 10 patients the histology will be targeted to a specific location in the tumour based on the imaging. 10 patients will undergo a repeat MRI <14 d apart to test whether the MRI scans can give the same answer twice (the test repeatability).
The study is expected to run for 24 months and is funded by NIHR.
The chief investigator for the study is Dr Richard Hesketh (rhesketh@ucl.ac.uk).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Histological characterisation of renal tumours | No intervention | –Histological samples of ten patients with tumour histology will be retreived from the Royal Free Hospital Biobank. Slides will be stained using H\&E and CD34 and cell size, stromal space and vascularity will be estimated and used to inform diffusion weighted imaging models. |
| Comparison of microstructural MRI to histology | Experimental | Diagnostic Test: MRI10 patients with small renal tumours will undergo microstructural MRI. Following MRI the tumours will be surgically resected. The MRI will be co-registered with histology. The degree of correlation between the MRI and underlying histology will be determined. |
| Repeatability of MRI of small renal masses | Experimental | Diagnostic Test: MRIThe repeatability of the MRI scan of the small renal mass will be determined by participants undergoing a repeat MRI examination shortly after the first (within 14 d) on the same scanner. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Aged 18 and over
- Confirmed renal tumour ≤ 7 cm planned for surgical resection
- Willing and able to provide written informed consent
- Able to lie supine for the duration of an MRI
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Contraindication to MRI e.g., cardiac pacemaker
- Contraindication to MR contrast agents
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Deranged renal function (eGFR <30) in the last three months.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| MRIParticipants undergo an additional MRI scan using novel MRI sequences | Diagnostic test | Comparison of microstructural MRI to histology, Repeatability of MRI of small renal masses |
Primary outcome
Diagnostic accuracy of proton density fat fraction (PDFF) to differentiate different histological subtypes of renal tumours.
Time frame: 1 year
PDFF mean values will be calculated for each tumour in arms 2 and 3. Following surgery the means for each histological subtype will be calculated and tested for statistical significance.
Repeatability of proton density fat fraction (PDFF) measurements.
Time frame: 1 year
Participants in arm 3 will undergo repeat scanning with a short time interval between scans. The repeatability of PDFF measurements will be assessed using within subject standard deviation, repeatability coefficients and Bland-Altman analysis.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Sep 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41495369Sen S, Smith L, Caselton L, Clemente J, Tran M, Punwani S, Atkinson D, Hesketh RL, Panagiotaki E. Dual deep learning approach for non-invasive renal tumour subtyping with VERDICT-MRI. Npj Imaging. 2026 Jan 6;4(1):2. doi: 10.1038/s44303-025-00135-6.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing MRI in people with Renal Cancer and MRI, run by University College, London at 1 site in United Kingdom.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Diagnostic accuracy of proton density fat fraction (PDFF) to differentiate different histological subtypes of renal tumours. (time frame: 1 year). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07173140, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Sep 2025.