Evaluation of functional tumor blood flow map using dynamic MRI and compartment analysis

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Angiogenesis correlates with tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. Although tumor blood flow increased by angiogensis, it has not been established to noninvasively measure tumor blood flow in vivo. In this research project, we have developed a new method for quantitative measurement of tumor blood flow(TBF) in vivo by using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and compartment analysis. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI was performed using inversion recovery-preparation fast field echo(IR-FFE) sequence(TR/TE/TT 7.7/3.9/280msec, flip angle 10 degree, FOV 380x190mm, matrix 256x128, slice thickness 6mm). Quantitative TBF maps(ml/100ml/min) were generated pixel-by-pixel by deconvolution analysis of the signal intensity-time curves obtained from arteries and tumors. TBF map clearly demonstrated heterogeneity ofTBF, i.e. increased TBF in tumor periphery due to angiogenesis and low TBF in center of tumor. In patients who received chemotherapy, substantial changes of TBF were demonstrated after chemotherapeutic cycles, reflecting the therapeutic response. On surgical specimens, the distribution of viable and non-viable tumor cells and the chemotherapeutic effects were better predicted by the TBF maps rather than the conventional contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR images. Thus, TBF map would be a promising tool for evaluating tumor blood flow and may be useful to evaluate treatment response.