University of Pittsburgh

Quantitative Biomarker Imaging for Early Therapy Response Assessment in Cancer

James Mountz, M.D., Ph.D.
MOUNTZJM@UPMC.EDU
Grant Number: U01 CA140230.

The University of Pittsburgh assembled a multidisciplinary team of researchers under the support of the Quantitative Imaging Network to address a vital need for quantitative assessment of cancer therapy response. CT and standard MRI decreases in FDG uptake after the first chemotherapy cycle correlate with better outcome. F-18 FLT PET measures cell proliferation rate, another fundamental process in malignancy. Apoptosis is the primary mechanism of action of most anticancer drugs and can be monitored by the novel PET tracer F-18 ApoSense. In all cancer therapy trials antiangiogenic effect will be measured by DCE MRI in addition to perfusion MRI. Similarly, MRSI can be used to assess choline metabolism, which reflects membrane turnover, through the measurement of total choline and phosphocholine. Finally, triple quantum filtered sodium MRI has been proposed to assess proliferative activity in tumors and changes in cell volume fraction as a result of cell kill. In this project, measures of novel quantitative imaging biomarkers will be combined with patient outcome and tissue biomarkers to develop predictive methodologies for early assessment of response to cancer therapy. The overarching goal of this project will be to standardize PET-CT and MRI protocols, to accurately and reproducibly measure changes in imaging biomarkers during cancer therapy trials, in order to optimize early predictions of subsequent clinical outcomes. Quantitative imaging will be performed in malignant brain tumors with responses to molecularly targeted agents imaged by F-18 ApoSense, F-18 FLT and MRI. Quantitative imaging will also be performed in recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck using novel targeted agents against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and angiogenesis, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor (VEGFR). The type and timing of imaging are aimed at more specific measurements of the effects on the drug target, to provide the earliest indicator of therapeutic response. Development and use of quantitative imaging for early therapy assessment will greatly facilitate patient management, by sparing patients from weeks or months of toxicity and ineffective treatment.