Superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of experimental liver tumors after mitomycin C administration.

The influence of mitomycin C chemotherapy on superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) uptake by the liver was studied in rats (n = 70). This commonly used antineoplastic drug induces a decrease in the phagocytic function of the macrophage-phagocytic system (MPS). The plasma clearance of SPIO measured by relaxometry followed a biexponential model. The fast component half-life increased from 2.9 minutes in controls to 4.5 minutes in mitomycin C-treated animals. The slow component half-life increased from 11.3 to 36.7 minutes. Nevertheless, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostic efficacy 2 hours after infusion of the superparamagnetic agent AMI 25 (n = 10) was as satisfactory in the treated group as in the untreated one. These MRI results were consistent with the relaxometric T2* liver measurements, which were identical in both groups.