title: Microdensitometry of T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images from patients with advanced neoplasias in a phase I clinical trial of an infrared pulsed laser device (IPLD).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether an infrared pulsed laser device (IPLD)-induced pathophysiologic changes could be identified before measurable modifications in tumor volume.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre-and post-IPLD treatment magnetic resonance (MR) images of tumor heterogeneities and peritumoral tissues were digitized and a linear transformation was performed to convert images to 256 intensity levels. Data were analyzed by using the Student's t-test and the Kolmogorov-Sminov test (alpha = 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The post-treatment mean intensity values of tumor heterogeneities increased significantly (P < 0.001) for all of the seven patients (n = 7) evaluated. For peritumoral tissues, a significant increase (P < 0.001) was measured in four patients (n = 4). The Kolmogorov-Sminov test showed significant values for the tumor tissue of six (n = 6) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study of early evidence of anti-cancer activity of a novel IPLD showing a significant increase in the water content of tumor heterogeneities before measurable changes in tumor volume.
authors.affiliation: Fundalas, Foundation for Interdisciplinary Research and Development, Caracas Venezuela. fundalas@mail2science.com
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Santana-Blank
authors.forename: Heberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Santana
authors.forename: Karin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Santana-Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003720:Densitometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*