Molecular Imaging of Extracellular Tumor pH to Reveal Effects of Locoregional Therapy on Liver Cancer Microenvironment.

Purpose: To establish magnetic resonance (MR)-based molecular imaging paradigms for the noninvasive monitoring of extracellular pH (pH) as a functional surrogate biomarker for metabolic changes induced by locoregional therapy of liver cancer.

Experimental Design: Thirty-two VX2 tumor-bearing New Zealand white rabbits underwent longitudinal imaging on clinical 3T-MRI and CT scanners before and up to 2 weeks after complete conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) using ethiodized oil (lipiodol) and doxorubicin. MR-spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) was employed for pH mapping.