Cancers, Vol. 15, Pages 4662: MRI Assessment of Changes in Tumor Vascularization during Neoadjuvant Anti-Angiogenic Treatment in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Patients

Cancers, Vol. 15, Pages 4662: MRI Assessment of Changes in Tumor Vascularization during Neoadjuvant Anti-Angiogenic Treatment in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Patients Cancers doi: 10.3390/cancers15184662 Authors: Torgeir Mo Siri Helene Bertelsen Brandal Oliver Marcel Geier Olav Engebråten Line Brennhaug Nilsen Vessela N. Kristensen Knut Håkon Hole Tord Hompland Thomas Fleischer Therese Seierstad Anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) treatment improves response rates, but not progression-free or overall survival in advanced breast cancer. It has been suggested that subgroups of patients may benefit from this treatment; however, the effects of adding anti-VEGF treatment to a standard chemotherapy regimen in breast cancer patients are not well studied. Understanding the effects of the anti-vascular treatment on tumor vasculature may provide a selection of patients that can benefit. The aim of this study was to study the vascular effect of bevacizumab using clinical dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI). A total of 70 women were randomized to receive either chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy with bevacizumab for 25 weeks. DCE-MRI was performed at baseline and at 12 and 25 weeks, and in addition 25 of 70 patients agreed to participate in an early MRI after one week. Voxel-wise pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using semi-quantitative methods and the extended Tofts model. Vascular architecture was assessed by calculating the fractal dim...
Source: Cancers - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research