Predicting survival and early clinical response to primary chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced breast cancer using DCE-MRI.

Purpose: To evaluate dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) as a tool for early prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and 5-year survival in patients with locally advanced breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: DCE-MRI was performed in patients scheduled for NAC (n = 24) before and after the first treatment cycle. Clinical response was evaluated after completed NAC.

Outcome of whole-brain irradiation for breast cancer patients.

Purpose: To determine the overall survival (OS) of breast cancer patients treated by Whole Brain Radiation Therapy (WBRT) and possible important prognostic factors for OS.

Material And Methods: The study population comprised 99 patients with brain metastases (BM) treated with WBRT in the period 1988 to 2004 at St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.

Metabolic profiling of human brain metastases using in vivo proton MR spectroscopy at 3T.

Background: Metastases to the central nervous system from different primary cancers are an oncologic challenge as the overall prognosis for these patients is generally poor. The incidence of brain metastases varies with type of primary cancer and is probably increasing due to improved therapies of extracranial metastases prolonging patient's overall survival and thereby time for brain metastases to develop. In addition, the greater access to improved neuroimaging techniques can provide earlier diagnosis.

Characterization of brain metastases using high-resolution magic angle spinning MRS.

The objectives of this study were to (a) explore the spectral characteristics of brain metastases, focusing on the origin of the primary cancer, and (b) evaluate the correlation with clinical outcome using multivariate analysis. High-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) MR spectra (n = 26) were obtained from 16 patients with brain metastases using a Bruker Avance DRX600 instrument. Standard pulse-acquired and spin-echo (TE 32 and 285 ms) (1)H spectra were obtained.