Longitudinal Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of COPD: Thoracic Imaging Network of Canada (TINCan) Study Objectives

Abstract

Although the human and societal burden and cost of COPD is staggering, there are few clinical tools that provide earlier diagnoses or a means to regionally monitor disease in a way that might lead to improved therapies and outcomes. In acknowledgement of the current gaps in COPD therapy, the objective of the Thoracic Imaging Network of Canada (TINCan) is to improve COPD patient phenotyping through imaging, to provide methods and imaging-based intermediate endpoints for the development of new treatments, and to evaluate disease progression and patient-based outcomes in COPD patients and those at risk of COPD. Here we summarize and outline the TINCan study protocol and describe our objectives. TINCan is a prospective study that aims to identify and quantify novel COPD phenotypes from thoracic computed tomography (CT) and thoracic hyperpolarized noble gas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 200 ex-smokers, 50 years of age or greater, including asymptomatic ex-smokers with normal pulmonary function and Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Unclassified (U) , and GOLD stages I-IV patients. Baseline and 2-year follow-up measurements will be acquired using spirometry, plethysmography, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), thoracic CT and hyperpolarized helium-3 (3He) and xenon 129 (129Xe) MRI. TINCan provides a unique opportunity to quantify and compare novel lung structure-function measurements and investigate their relationship with well-established clinical measurements and outcomes. Such intermediate endpoints of COPD may be used to stratify patients for personalized treatments and to develop new treatments to improve outcomes, a long-standing clinical goal.