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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of an Orthotopic Pancreatic Cancer Mouse Model
Published on: April 18, 2015
Quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in tumor-bearing rats and mice with inversion recovery TrueFISP and two
Claudia Weidensteiner1, Martin Rausch, Paul M J McSheehy
1Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland. claudia.weidensteiner@roche.com
Purpose:
To characterize tumor vascularization by dynamic-contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI using low and medium molecular weight paramagnetic contrast agents (CA) and inversion recovery (IR) true fast imaging with steady state precession (TrueFISP) in tumor-bearing rats and mice.
Materials And Methods:
T(1) mapping was performed using IR True FISP in phantoms and in vivo at 4.7 T and validated with a segmented IR gradient-echo (IR GE) method. CA concentration in DCE-MRI studies in vivo was calculated from time-series T(1) maps using the CAs GdDOTA and P792 (low and medium molecular weight, respectively). Standard vascular input functions (VIFs) were measured in the jugular veins and were used for modeling of the CA kinetics with a two-compartment model. In rat breast tumors, vascular permeability (transfer constant K(trans)), fractional plasma volume v(p), and fractional leakage space v(e) were quantified and parametric maps were generated.
Results:
The IR TrueFISP T(1) was slightly underestimated in phantoms and overestimated in vivo (10%) with respect to IR GE. VIFs showed only small interindividual variation. Mean K(trans) values were 0.062 +/- 0.017 min(-1) for GdDOTA and 0.015 +/- 0.005 min(-1) for P792 (N = 12). Mean v(e) and v(p) values were 0.15 +/- 0.04 (0.09 +/- 0.03) and 0.04 +/- 0.01 (0.03 +/- 0.01) for GdDOTA (P792).
Conclusion:
DCE-MRI with IR TrueFISP provided absolute values for K(trans), v(p), and v(e). Direct comparison between GdDOTA and P792 revealed significant differences in the VIF, model-fit-quality, permeability, leakage space, and plasma volume. The larger molecular weight CA P792 appears to be better for measuring tumor vascular parameters.
Insights
Dynamic-contrast enhanced MRI using inversion recovery TrueFISP accurately measured tumor vascular parameters. Larger molecular weight contrast agents like P792 showed better results for assessing tumor vascularization compared to GdDOTA.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Radiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Tumor vascularization is crucial for tumor growth and metastasis.
- Accurate characterization of tumor vasculature aids in treatment planning and monitoring.
- Dynamic-contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI is a powerful tool for assessing tumor microvasculature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate dynamic-contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI with inversion recovery (IR) TrueFISP for characterizing tumor vascularization.
- To compare low and medium molecular weight paramagnetic contrast agents (CAs) in DCE-MRI.
- To quantify tumor vascular parameters including permeability and plasma volume.
Main Methods:
- T(1) mapping was performed using IR TrueFISP at 4.7 T in phantoms and in vivo.
- Contrast agent concentration was calculated from time-series T(1) maps using GdDOTA and P792.
- Vascular input functions (VIFs) were measured, and CA kinetics were modeled using a two-compartment model.
- Tumor vascular permeability (K(trans)), fractional plasma volume (v(p)), and fractional leakage space (v(e)) were quantified in rat breast tumors.
Main Results:
- IR TrueFISP T(1) values showed slight underestimation in phantoms and overestimation in vivo compared to IR GE.
- VIFs exhibited minimal interindividual variation.
- Mean K(trans) values were 0.062 ± 0.017 min⁻¹ for GdDOTA and 0.015 ± 0.005 min⁻¹ for P792.
- Mean v(e) and v(p) values differed significantly between GdDOTA and P792.
Conclusions:
- DCE-MRI with IR TrueFISP enables absolute quantification of tumor vascular parameters (K(trans), v(p), v(e)).
- Significant differences were observed between GdDOTA and P792 in VIF, model fit, permeability, leakage space, and plasma volume.
- The medium molecular weight CA P792 demonstrated superior performance for measuring tumor vascular parameters.
