This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rosen, M. A. Articles by Schnall, M. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rosen, M. A. Articles by Schnall, M. D.

Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Assessing Tumor Vascularity and Vascular Effects of Targeted Therapies in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Authors' Affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Requests for reprints: Mark A. Rosen, Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 1 Silverstein, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Phone: 215-662-3107; Fax: 215-662-7263; E-mail: rosenmar{at}uphs.upenn.edu.

Traditional cross-sectional tumor imaging focuses solely on tumor morphology. With the introduction of targeted biological therapies in human trials, morphologic change may lag behind other physiologic measures of response on clinical images. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is a new imaging method for assessing the physiologic state of tumor vascularity in vivo. DCE-MRI, which uses available imaging techniques and contrast agents, assays the kinetics of tumor enhancement during bolus i.v. contrast administration. Modeling of the temporal enhancement pattern yields physiologic variables related to tumor blood flow and microvessel permeability. Changes in these variables after vascular-targeted therapy can then be quantified to evaluate the tumor vascular response. As these responses may precede morphologic tumor shrinkage, DCE-MRI might serve as a noninvasive means of monitoring early tumor response to vascular-targeted therapy. Renal cell carcinoma provides an excellent model for assessing the effect on DCE-MRI in clinical trials. The vascular richness of renal tumors provides a large dynamic scale of DCE-MRI measures. Patients with disseminated renal cell carcinoma frequently present with one or several large tumors, creating an easy imaging target for DCE-MRI evaluation. Finally, renal cell carcinoma is clearly susceptible to therapies that target tumor angiogenesis. DCE-MRI can be used to monitor the vascular changes induced by such therapies. Future efforts must be directed to standardizing image acquisition and analysis techniques to quantify tumor vascular responses.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. M. Winter, A. H. Schmieder, S. D. Caruthers, J. L. Keene, H. Zhang, S. A. Wickline, and G. M. Lanza Minute dosages of {alpha}{nu}{beta}3-targeted fumagillin nanoparticles impair Vx-2 tumor angiogenesis and development in rabbits FASEB J, August 1, 2008; 22(8): 2758 - 2767. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Schuetze, L. H. Baker, R. S. Benjamin, and R. Canetta Selection of Response Criteria for Clinical Trials of Sarcoma Treatment Oncologist, April 1, 2008; 13(suppl_2): 32 - 40. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Liapi, J.-F. Geschwind, J. A. Vossen, M. Buijs, C. S. Georgiades, D. A. Bluemke, and I. R. Kamel Functional MRI Evaluation of Tumor Response in Patients with Neuroendocrine Hepatic Metastasis Treated with Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Am. J. Roentgenol., January 1, 2008; 190(1): 67 - 73. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]