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Whole-body MRI scans are helping doctors track how patients with myeloma respond to treatment. Researchers from The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, led the iTIMM study to test whether MRI scans can spot tiny traces of the disease that blood and bone marrow tests often miss. The findings, published in the Blood Cancer Journal, showed MRI scans could predict who was more likely to relapse.
Myeloma is a blood cancer that affects plasma cells, which normally help fight infection. In patients with myeloma, abnormal plasma cells weaken the immune system and increase infection risk. While there is no cure, treatments can control symptoms, extend remission, and improve quality of life. Detecting hidden cancer cells early is crucial to keeping patients healthier for longer.
The study involved 70 patients who had stem cell transplants. Each patient received whole-body MRI scans before and after treatment. Researchers found that one in three patients showed leftover cancer even when other tests looked normal. Those patients relapsed sooner, surviving only about 24 months without disease progression compared to 42 months in patients with clear scans.
Unlike traditional X-rays or CT scans, WB-MRI does not use radiation and can detect disease in bones and soft tissues across the whole body. This makes it a safer and more accurate tool for long-term monitoring. Results showed MRI outcomes were more reliable than blood or bone marrow tests in predicting relapse, making it a powerful new option for doctors.
Professor Christina Messiou explained that WB-MRI offers a non-invasive, standardised way to track myeloma that is safe for repeated use. Professor Martin Kaiser noted that as treatments expand, whole-body MRI will play an even greater role in personalising care. Together, they believe this technique marks a shift towards smarter and kinder cancer monitoring.
For patients, the benefits are already clear. Retired Air Vice-Marshal Fin Monahan shared how MRI scans detected his cancer earlier than CT scans ever could. This allowed him to return to active service after treatment and continue serving his country despite relapses. The research was supported by The Royal Marsden, ICR, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, and Cancer Research UK’s NCITA program.
