title: Assessment of neovascular permeability in a pancreatic tumor model using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI with contrast agents of different molecular weights.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the relationship of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI)-derived pharmacokinetic parameters and contrast agents with different molecular weights (MW) in a pancreatic tumor mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Panc02 tumors were induced in mice at the hind leg. DCE-MRI was performed using Gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agents with different MW: Gd-DOTA (0.5 kDa), P846 (3.5 kDa), and P792 (6.47 kDa). Quantitative vascular parameters (AUC, K(trans), V(e), and V(p)) were calculated according to a modified Tofts two-compartment model. Values for all contrast groups were compared for tumor and control (muscle) tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Values for K(trans) and V(e) were significantly higher in tumor tissue than in muscle tissue. When comparing contrast agents, lowest absolute K(trans) values were observed using P792. The relative increase in K(trans) in tumor tissue compared with normal tissue was highest after the use of P792. In both tumor and normal tissues, K(trans) decreased with increasing molecular weight of the contrast agent used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was demonstrated that values for the different DCE-MRI vascular (permeability) parameters are highly dependent on the contrast agent used. Due to their potential to better differentiate tumor from muscle tissue, higher molecular weight contrast agents show promise when evaluating tumors using DCE-MRI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. Louke.Delrue@uzgent.be
authors.forename: Louke J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Delrue
authors.forename: Veerle
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Casneuf
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blanckaert
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: Wim P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Ceelen
authors.forename: Philippe C O
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Duyck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C531154:P846 compound; C050823:gadolinium 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetate; C435266:contrast agent P792