Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in prostate cancer clinical trials: potential roles and possible pitfalls.
Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) evaluates the tissue microvasculature and may have a role in assessing and predicting therapeutic response in prostate cancer (PCa). In this review, we review principles of DCE-MRI and present the potential quantitative information that can be obtained. We discuss how it may be used as a biomarker for treatment with antiangiogenic and antivascular agents and potentially identify patients with PCa who may benefit from this form of therapy. Likewise, DCE-MRI may play a role in assessing response to combined androgen deprivation therapy and radiation therapy and theoretically could be a prognostic biomarker in evaluating second-generation hormone therapies. We also address the challenges of using DCE-MRI in PCa clinical trials and discuss the difficulties with standardization of this methodology to allow for biomarker validation, with particular reference to PCa.
Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA ; Department of Radiology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.
Fiona M
FM
Fennessy
Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.
Rana R
RR
McKay
Department of Radiation Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
Clair J
CJ
Beard
Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.
Mary-Ellen
ME
Taplin
Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
Clare M
CM
Tempany