Experimental hepatocellular carcinoma: MR receptor imaging.
Relaxation time measurements and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were performed in three different animal models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). After intravenous administration of asialoglycoprotein-directed arabinogalactan-stabilized ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (10 mumol Fe/kg receptor agent), T2 of normal liver decreased from 41.6 msec +/- 1.0 to 19.4 msec +/- 1.7 (P less than .05) in rats. T2 of HCC implanted in normal liver or liver with chronic hepatitis was essentially unchanged. These results were similar to those obtained by administration of a reticuloendothelial cell-directed conventional iron oxide; however, the required dose of receptor agent was lower. MR imaging in a woodchuck model of virally induced HCC confirmed the distribution of the hepatocyte-directed agent to regions of functioning and differentiated hepatocytes but not to malignant tumor tissue. The results suggest that MR receptor imaging may play a role in the differentiation between primary liver tumor and functional liver tissue such as that in normal liver hepatitis or regenerating nodules.
Reimer
P
P
MGH-NMR Center, Charlestown, MA 02129.
Weissleder
R
R
Brady
T J
TJ
Yeager
A E
AE
Baldwin
B H
BH
Tennant
B C
BC
Wittenberg
J
J
D000818:Animals; D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D005685:Galactans; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D008297:Male; D008392:Marmota; D010087:Oxides; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*
D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D005685:Galactans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D010087:Oxides; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; C097921:ferumoxtran-10; D007501:Iron; C005653:arabinogalactan; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide