Assessment of tumor microcirculation: a new role of dynamic contrast MR imaging.
With the advances in MR techniques, information related to tumor microcirculation now can be obtained in the clinical setting. This information can be valuable in the assessment of tumor blood supply/oxygenation status and tumor response to therapy. In this article, we review the tracer-kinetic modeling for tumor microcirculatory parameters derived from dynamic contrast MR imaging and report several preliminary results from both an animal model and early experience with human tumors. Despite the application of different MR protocols and tracer-kinetic models, the initial results of these pioneer studies consistently support the role of MR-derived microcirculatory tumor parameters, in providing prognostic information to assess and predict the response of cancers to cytotoxic therapy.
Griebel
J
J
Institute of Radiobiology, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
Mayr
N A
NA
de Vries
A
A
Knopp
M V
MV
Gneiting
T
T
Kremser
C
C
Essig
M
M
Hawighorst
H
H
Lukas
P H
PH
Yuh
W T
WT
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D005682:Gadolinium