title: Tumor therapeutic response and vessel tortuosity: preliminary report in metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: No current non-invasive method is capable of assessing the efficacy of brain tumor therapy early during treatment. We outline an approach that evaluates tumor activity via statistical analysis of vessel shape using vessels segmented from MRA. This report is the first to describe the changes in vessel shape that occur during treatment of metastatic brain tumors as assessed by sequential MRA. In this preliminary study of 16 patients undergoing treatment for metastatic breast cancer we conclude that vessel shape may predict tumor response several months in advance of traditional methods.
authors.affiliation: CASILab, CB # 7062, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. bullitt@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bullitt
authors.forename: Nancy U
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Matthew G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ewend
authors.forename: Donglin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Eric P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Winer
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: J Keith
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium