Evaluation of a novel macromolecular cascade-polymer contrast medium for dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI monitoring of antiangiogenic bevacizumab therapy in a human melanoma model.

Rationale And Objectives: To assess the applicability of a novel macromolecular polyethylene glycol (PEG)-core gadolinium contrast agent for monitoring early antiangiogenic effects of bevacizumab using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials And Methods: Athymic rats (n = 26) implanted with subcutaneous human melanoma xenografts underwent DCE-MRI at 2.0 T using two different macromolecular contrast agents.

Evaluation of imatinib mesylate as a possible treatment for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in a rat model.

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of imatinib mesylate in the treatment of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in a rat model administered high-dose gadodiamide, erythropoietin (Epo) and intravenous iron (IV iron).

Materials And Methods: The local committee for animal research approved this study. Four groups of six Hannover-Wistar rats were studied.

Gadolinium accumulation and fibrosis in the liver after administration of gadoxetate disodium in a rat model of active hepatic fibrosis.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of gadoxetate disodium on fibrosis in a rat model of active hepatic fibrosis.

Materials And Methods: The local committee for animal research approved this study. Hepatic fibrosis was induced during 12 weeks of intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)).

Permeability to macromolecular contrast media quantified by dynamic MRI correlates with tumor tissue assays of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Purpose: To correlate dynamic MRI assays of macromolecular endothelial permeability with microscopic area-density measurements of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in tumors.

Methods And Material: This study compared tumor xenografts from two different human cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 tumors (n=5), and MDA-MB-435 (n=8), reported to express respectively higher and lower levels of VEGF. Dynamic MRI was enhanced by a prototype macromolecular contrast medium (MMCM), albumin-(Gd-DTPA)35.

[Effects of MRI-assayed microvascular permeability on the accumulation of vinorelbine in xenograft tumors].

Purpose: To determine the effects of MRI-assayed vascular leakiness on the delivery of macromolecular therapeutics to tumors.

Materials And Methods: MDA-MB 435 tumors, subcutaneously implanted into nude rats were treated with a single dose of bevacizumab at levels of 0.1 mg (n = 5) or 1.