Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the metastatic potential of tumors: A preclinical study of cervical carcinoma and melanoma xenografts

AbstractBackground. Gadolinium diethylene-triamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-DTPA)-based dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) has been suggested to be a useful non-invasive method for providing biomarkers for personalized cancer treatment. In this preclinical study, we investigated whether Gd-DTPA-based DCE-MRI may have the potential to differentiate between poorly and highly metastatic tumors. Material and methods. CK-160 cervical carcinoma and V-27 melanoma xenografts were used as tumor models. Fifty-six tumors were imaged, and parametric images of Ktrans (the volume transfer constant of Gd-DTPA) and ve (the fractional distribution volume of Gd-DTPA) were produced by pharmacokinetic analysis of the DCE-MRI series. The host mice were examined for lymph node metastases immediately after the DCE-MRI. Results. Highly metastatic tumors showed lower values for median Ktrans than poorly metastatic tumors (p = 0.00033, CK-160; p < 0.00001, V-27). Median ve was lower for highly than for poo...