title: Brain tumor response to nimotuzumab treatment evaluated on magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nimotuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody anti-epidermal growth factor receptor, has been shown to improve survival and quality of life in patients with pediatric malignant brain tumor. It is necessary, however, to increase the objective response criteria to define the optimal therapeutic schedule. The aim of this study was to obtain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) quantitative information related to dimensions and morphology, molecular mobility and metabolic activity of the lesion and surroundings in order to evaluate any changes through time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen pediatric patients treated with nimotuzumab were evaluated on MRI and MRS for >2 years. Each patient was their own control. The MRI/MRS pulse sequence parameters were standardized to ensure experimental reproducibility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 71.4% of patients had stable disease; 21.4% had objective response and 7.1% had progression of disease during the >2 year evaluation period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI/MRS data with clinical information provide a clearer picture of treatment response and confirm once again that nimotuzumab is effective in the treatment of pediatric brain tumor. These imaging procedures can be a useful tool for the clinical evaluation of study protocol in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Images Group, Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Evelio Rafael González
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Dalmau
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cabal Mirabal
authors.forename: Giselle Saurez
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Agustín Lage
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dávila
authors.forename: José Carlos Ugarte
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cabanas Armada
authors.forename: Gretel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodriguez Cruz
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Darias Zayas
authors.forename: Martha Ríos
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valle Garrido
authors.forename: Luis Quevedo
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Sotolongo
authors.forename: Mercedes Monzón
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C501466:nimotuzumab
keywords: brain tumor; magnetic resonance imaging; nimotuzumab