CTA combined with CT perfusion for assessing the efficacy of anti-angiogenic therapy in rabbit VX2 tumors.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to validate the feasibility of assessing the efficacy of antiangiogenic therapy on VX2 tumors using three-dimensional computed tomographic (CT) angiography (CTA) combined with CT perfusion.


METHODS
Forty rabbits with VX2 tumors were randomly assigned to four groups according to different doses of antiangiogenic drug, which were administered intraperitoneally daily for 14 days. In each group, 10 animals were scanned using three-dimensional CTA and CT perfusion on days 1 and 2 after the latest administration of the drug. Tumor masses were sectioned, stained by immunohistochemistry, and processed for correlation between CT imaging and histology.


RESULTS
The numbers of new tumor vessels from CTA were significantly different among the four groups (P < .001). As the dose of the drug increased, blood flow and blood volume on CT perfusion increased linearly, but the mean transit time and permeability surface-area product decreased linearly (P < .001). Immunohistochemical analyses showed that microvascular density decreased, while both luminal vascular number and mature vessel number increased linearly as the drug dose increased (P < .001). CT manifestations were correlated well with histologic findings (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
It is feasible to assess the efficacy of antiangiogenic therapy on VX2 tumors using three-dimensional CTA combined with CT perfusion. Three-dimensional CTA can display the morphologic changes of tumor vessels, while CT perfusion can predict the functional changes of tumor vessels after antiangiogenic therapy.
Department of Radiology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China.
Han
H
Wang
Lin-Feng
LF
Zheng
Yan
Y
Feng
Xue-Qian
XQ
Xie
Xiao-Ming
XM
Yang
Gui-Xiang
GX
Zhang
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D043169:Endostatins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011817:Rabbits; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D043169:Endostatins