Limitations of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in monitoring radiation-induced changes in the fraction of radiobiologically hypoxic cells in human melanoma xenografts.

PURPOSE

To investigate the potential of gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA)-based dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in detecting radiation-induced changes in the fraction of radiobiologically hypoxic cells in A-07 human melanoma xenografts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A-07 tumors were randomly assigned to an unirradiated control group or a group given a single radiation dose of 20 Gy. DCE-MRI and measurement of fraction of hypoxic cells were performed immediately before and 24 h after the radiation exposure. Tumor images of E . F (E is the initial extraction fraction of Gd-DTPA and F is blood perfusion) and lambda (lambda is proportional to extracellular volume fraction) were produced by subjecting DCE-MRI series to Kety analysis. Fraction of hypoxic cells was measured by using a radiobiological assay based on the paired survival curve method.

RESULTS

Fraction of radiobiologically hypoxic cells was higher in irradiated tumors (26.2+/-5.8%) than in unirradiated tumors (7.5+/-2.7%) by a factor of 3.5+/-1.5 (P=0.0093), whereas only minor radiation-induced changes in E . F and lambda could be detected.

CONCLUSION

DCE-MRI does not seem to offer insight into the changes in fraction of radiobiologically hypoxic cells occurring in A-07 tumors within 24 h after irradiation with 20 Gy.