Luca Pasquini, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingCards
About
Research
I use neuro-imaging, including advanced MRI techniques, to enhance the integration of cognitive neuroscience into clinical practice. My research interests include brain connectivity, artificial intelligence and molecular imaging.
Publications
2026
Resting-state co-activation patterns in brain tumours
Spitoni L, Napolitano A, Pasquini L. Resting-state co-activation patterns in brain tumours. Physica Medica 2026, 142: 105494. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2025.105494.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2025
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Guided Stereotactic Radiosurgery to Avoid Symptomatic Radionecrosis
Gui C, Jenabi M, Daly J, Gillick C, Bradley T, Sze E, Maldonado R, Tiwari A, Brennan C, Moss N, Tabar V, Yu K, Yamada Y, Yu Y, Mankuzhy N, Pike L, Stember J, Pasquini L, Peck K, Ballangrud Å, Holodny A, Imber B. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Guided Stereotactic Radiosurgery to Avoid Symptomatic Radionecrosis. International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2025, 124: 1186-1198. PMID: 41319722, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.11.050.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFunctional magnetic resonance imagingNear eloquent areasFocal neurological symptomsStereotactic radiosurgeryEloquent areasBrain metastasesNeurological symptomsTarget coverageFunctional magnetic resonance imaging studyMonths of SRSProgressive neurological symptomsMotor eloquent areasIrradiated BMMagnetic resonance imagingSymptomatic radionecrosisSymptomatic RNNeurological toxicityLanguage areasPrimary outcomeRadionecrosisNeuroanatomical relationshipPatientsResonance imagingNeurosurgical injuriesRadiosurgeryRisk Factors for Spinal Cord Compression on MRI in Oncology: Enhancing Diagnostic Yield.
Yildirim O, Ucpinar B, Pasquini L, Contreras E, Perez J, Shah A, Schefflein J, Stember J, White C, Zhang Z, Klotz A, Holodny A, Hatzoglou V. Risk Factors for Spinal Cord Compression on MRI in Oncology: Enhancing Diagnostic Yield. American Journal Of Neuroradiology 2025, 47: 837-842. PMID: 40962422, PMCID: PMC12964437, DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a9002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEpidural spinal cord compressionTotal spine MRISpinal cord compressionDiagnostic yieldTumor-node-metastasisSpine MRIBone metastasesCord compressionBody CTEpidural spinal cord compression gradeNon-contrast MRI protocolOncology patientsRisk factorsBody CT examsStage IV diseaseAdvanced-stage diseaseTertiary cancer centerSpine MRI examinationsFisher's exact testFrequency of positive findingsWilcoxon rank sum testPearson chi-square testSite of compressionRank sum testAdvanced TNM stageInvestigating metabolic connectivity in patients with multiple myeloma receiving BCMA CAR T cell therapy.
Jenabi M, Pasquini L, Shah G, Mailankody S, Scordo M, Landau H, Rajeeve S, Lesokhin A, Hashmi H, Perica K, Hultcrantz M, Korde N, Shah U, Tan C, Hassoun H, Usmani S, Giralt S, Santomasso B, Holodny A, Krebs S. Investigating metabolic connectivity in patients with multiple myeloma receiving BCMA CAR T cell therapy. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2025, 43: 7524-7524. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.7524.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCAR-T cell therapyT-cell therapySUV meanBilateral basal gangliaMultiple myelomaBCMA-targeted CAR T-cell therapyBasal gangliaDays prior to infusionPost-CAR-TCAR-T cellsRelapsed/Refractory Multiple MyelomaRegional metabolic differencesDays post-infusionBilateral Rolandic operculumCAR-TNeurocognitive toxicityConsecutive patientsMetabolic brain networkClinical parametersT cellsFacial palsyRetrospective studyPost-infusionMetabolic connectivitySide effectsPatterns of relapse in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma after convection-enhanced delivery of 124I-omburtamab
Bander E, Garton A, Pasquini L, Reiner A, Yildirim O, Ilica A, Donzelli M, Haque S, Souweidane M. Patterns of relapse in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma after convection-enhanced delivery of 124I-omburtamab. Neuro-Oncology Advances 2025, 7: vdaf128. PMID: 40709014, PMCID: PMC12288026, DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdaf128.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDiffuse intrinsic pontine gliomaPattern of relapseConvection-enhanced deliveryIntrinsic pontine gliomaConvection-enhanced delivery treatmentOverall survivalCumulative incidencePontine gliomaTherapeutic efficacyAnatomical sitesAnatomical patternsCumulative incidence of progressionMedian overall survivalIncidence of progressionPhase I trialEffective treatment optionLower cumulative incidenceDrug delivery strategiesLocoregional controlMedian OSI trialTherapy trialsNo significant differenceRadiographic progressionTreatment options
2024
Cognitive Control Network and Language Reorganization in Patients with Brain Tumors
Pasquini L, Napolitano A, Spitoni L, Schmid M, Dellepiane F, Jenabi M, Peck K, Holodny A. Cognitive Control Network and Language Reorganization in Patients with Brain Tumors. American Journal Of Neuroradiology 2024, 46: ajnr.a8638. PMID: 39730156, PMCID: PMC12152808, DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a8638.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCognitive control networkLanguage reorganizationResting-state fMRIHealthy controlsFunctional magnetic resonance imagingControl networkTask-based fMRIResting state networksRight-handed patientsCognitive controlLanguage lateralizationReorganize languageEffect of lateralitySpeech deficitsLaterality indexFMRIAge-matched healthy controlsRight-handednessPatient's speechBrain tumorsTask-basedCognitive networksIndependent component analysisMagnetic resonance imagingBrainGut-brain axis and neuroplasticity in health and disease: a systematic review
Di Napoli A, Pasquini L, Visconti E, Vaccaro M, Rossi-Espagnet M, Napolitano A. Gut-brain axis and neuroplasticity in health and disease: a systematic review. La Radiologia Medica 2024, 130: 327-358. PMID: 39718685, DOI: 10.1007/s11547-024-01938-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFunctional magnetic resonance imaging studyDiffusion tensor imagingHealthy subjectsArterial spin labelingGut-brain axisBrain connectivityStructural magnetic resonance imagingMagnetic resonance imaging studiesInflammatory bowel syndromeAssociated with connectivityMagnetic resonance imagingGut microbiotaBowel syndromeImaging studiesTranscranial magnetic stimulationTemporal cortexNon-human subjectsResonance imagingCurrent evidenceStructural MRISomatosensory cortexPatientsPsychiatric diseasesBrain functionTensor imagingRADT-45. INTEGRATION OF FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING INTO STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY PLANNING TO REDUCE SYMPTOMATIC RADIATION NECROSIS
Gui C, Jenabi M, Daly J, Gillick C, Bradley T, Sze E, Maldonado R, Tiwari A, Stember J, Mankuzhy N, Yamada Y, Pike L, Pasquini L, Peck K, Ballangrud-Popovic Å, Holodny A, Imber B. RADT-45. INTEGRATION OF FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING INTO STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY PLANNING TO REDUCE SYMPTOMATIC RADIATION NECROSIS. Neuro-Oncology 2024, 26: viii83-viii83. PMCID: PMC11554023, DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noae165.0329.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStereotactic radiosurgerySymptomatic RNRadiation necrosisBrain metastasesNeurological symptomsDosimetric analysisTarget coverageComplications of stereotactic radiosurgeryMonths of SRSSacrificing target coverageSymptomatic radiation necrosisUnresectable brain metastasesMonths post-SRSEloquent cortical areasFunctional magnetic resonance imagingFocal neurological symptomsMagnetic resonance imagingRadiosurgery planningPost-SRSSRS plansPrimary motorEloquent areasNeurological functionPatientsResonance imagingBIOM-48. UTILITY OF CIRCULATING TUMOR DNA (CTDNA) FROM CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF) FOR PROGNOSIS OF PATIENTS WITH RECURRENT HIGH-GRADE GLIOMA
Miller A, Nandakumar S, Holle B, Kreitzer C, Song T, Tartaro M, Hertz C, Rafailov J, Campos C, Brannon A, Solit D, Pasquini L, Meng A, Reiner A, Young R, Socci N, Arcila M, Berger M, Schultz N, Mellinghoff I. BIOM-48. UTILITY OF CIRCULATING TUMOR DNA (CTDNA) FROM CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF) FOR PROGNOSIS OF PATIENTS WITH RECURRENT HIGH-GRADE GLIOMA. Neuro-Oncology 2024, 26: viii30-viii30. PMCID: PMC11553101, DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noae165.0120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCSF ctDNACirculating tumor DNAHigh-grade gliomasCtDNA-positiveCerebrospinal fluidOverall survivalTumor DNAUtility of circulating tumor DNAGenomic alterationsRecurrent high-grade gliomaMinimally invasive diagnostic methodInvasive diagnostic methodsAggressive primary brain tumorPrimary brain tumorGrowth signaling pathwaysPositive cytologyRecurrent gliomaLeptomeningeal diseaseCerebrospinal fluid collectionCopy number eventsMutant tumorsMSK-IMPACTClonal evolutionProspective studyClinical decision-makingOS06.1.A UTILITY OF CIRCULATING TUMOR DNA (CTDNA) FROM CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF) FOR PROGNOSIS OF PATIENTS WITH RECURRENT HIGH-GRADE GLIOMA
Holle B, Nandakumar S, Kreitzer C, Song T, Tartaro M, Hertz C, Rafailov J, Campos C, Reiner A, Young R, Meng A, Pasquini L, Brannon A, Socci N, Arcila M, Solit D, Berger M, Schultz N, Mellinghoff I, Miller A. OS06.1.A UTILITY OF CIRCULATING TUMOR DNA (CTDNA) FROM CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF) FOR PROGNOSIS OF PATIENTS WITH RECURRENT HIGH-GRADE GLIOMA. Neuro-Oncology 2024, 26: v19-v20. PMCID: PMC11485934, DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noae144.056.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCSF ctDNACirculating tumor DNAHigh-grade gliomasCtDNA-positiveCerebrospinal fluidAssociated with detectionOverall survivalTumor DNAGenomic alterationsRecurrent high-grade gliomaMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterIDH-wt tumorsAggressive primary brain tumorPrimary brain tumorMinimally invasive meansRoutine clinical careGrowth signaling pathwaysPositive cytologyRecurrent gliomaLeptomeningeal diseaseCerebrospinal fluid collectionEloquent locationMutant tumorsCopy number eventsMSK-IMPACT