Prediction of response to chemoradiation therapy in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck using dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging.
OBJECTIVE
Tumor microenvironment, including blood flow and permeability, may provide crucial information regarding response to chemoradiation therapy. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of pretreatment DCE-MR imaging for prediction of response to chemoradiation therapy in HNSCC.


METHODS
DCE-MR imaging studies were performed on 33 patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC before neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy by using a 1.5T (n = 24) or a 3T (n = 9) magnet. The data were analyzed by using SSM for estimation of K(trans), v(e), and tau(i). Response to treatment was determined on completion of chemoradiation as CR, with no evidence of disease (clinically or pathologically), or PR, with pathologically proved residual tumor.


RESULTS
The average pretreatment K(trans) value of the CR group (0.64 +/- 0.11 minutes(-1), n = 24) was significantly higher (P = .001) than that of the PR (0.21 +/- 0.05 minutes(-1), n = 9) group. No significant difference was found in other pharmacokinetic model parameters: v(e) and tau(i), between the 2 groups. Although the PR group had larger metastatic nodal volume than the CR group, it was not significantly different (P = .276).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that pretreatment DCE-MR imaging can be potentially used for prediction of response to chemoradiation therapy of HNSCC.
Kim
S
S
Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Sungheon.Kim@nyumc.org
Loevner
L A
LA
Quon
H
H
Kilger
A
A
Sherman
E
E
Weinstein
G
G
Chalian
A
A
Poptani
H
H
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005682:Gadolinium; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium