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Natural D ‐glucose as a biodegradable MRI contrast agent for detecting cancer
Author(s) -
Chan Kannie W. Y.,
McMahon Michael T.,
Kato Yoshinori,
Liu Guanshu,
Bulte Jeff W. M.,
Bhujwalla Zaver M.,
Artemov Dmitri,
van Zijl Peter C. M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.24520
Subject(s) - magnetic resonance imaging , in vivo , chemistry , mri contrast agent , cancer , dynamic contrast enhanced mri , nuclear medicine , biomedical engineering , medicine , radiology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Purpose: Modern imaging technologies such as CT, PET, SPECT, and MRI employ contrast agents to visualize the tumor microenvironment, providing information on malignancy and response to treatment. Currently, all clinical imaging agents require chemical labeling, i.e. with iodine (CT), radioisotopes (PET/SPECT), or paramagnetic metals (MRI). The goal was to explore the possibility of using simple D ‐glucose as an infusable biodegradable MRI agent for cancer detection. Methods: D ‐glucose signals were detected using chemical exchange saturation transfer (glucoCEST) MRI of its hydroxyl groups. Feasibility was established in phantoms as well as in vivo using two human breast cancer cell lines, MDA‐MB‐231 and MCF‐7, implanted orthotopically in nude mice. PET and contrast‐enhanced MRI were also acquired. Results: Both tumor types exhibited significant glucoCEST signal enhancement during systemic sugar infusion (mild hyperglycemia), allowing their noninvasive visualization. GlucoCEST showed differences between types, while PET and CE‐MRI did not. Data are discussed in terms of signal contributions from the increased vascular volume in tumors and especially from the acidic extracellular extravascular space (EES), where glucoCEST signal is expected to be enhanced due to a slow down of hydroxyl proton exchange. Conclusions: This observation opens up the possibility for using simple non‐toxic sugars as contrast agents for cancer detection with MRI by employing hydroxyl protons as a natural label. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.