Radiologic Service Provides Capability and Expertise in Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI

A radiologic service applies imaging techniques as a predictive and prognostic biomarker to improve the efficiency for drug and medical device development programs, and has successful trial experiences both with conventional imaging and emerging modalities such as positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI).

The American College of Radiology's (ACR; Reston, VA, USA) Image Metrix is a leader in imaging trial design, techniques, data extraction, management, and analysis. The imaging physicians and scientists at ACR Image Metrix work with sponsors to select the most appropriate imaging techniques based on the disease process and the mechanism of drug activity.

Drugs addressing angiogenic pathways are now in routine use in human oncology trials and in the clinic. DCE-MRI is a noninvasive imaging method that allows clinical trials to evaluate the status of the tumor microcirculation repeatedly over time to assess the effectiveness of developmental drug activity.

Routine contrast MRI imaging is performed either in the steady state or in a semi-dynamic manner. True DCE-MRI differs from these approaches in that it seeks to determine the phamacodynamics of tumor contrast enhancement, specifically the degree and rate of early tumor enhancement as a reflection of tumor vascularity.

In order to capture this pharmacodynamic information, imaging in DCE-MRI must occur at a much faster rate (on the order of 2-10 seconds) than that typically performed in clinical MRI. Imaging at these rates, with existing MRI equipment, places restrictions on image quality, image resolution, and volume of coverage. Trials employing DCE-MRI require rigorous standardization to ensure minimal variability between and within patients.

"Despite the hurdles one must overcome in DCE-MRI, many clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of DCE-MRI for tumor vascular evaluation during vascular targeted therapy,” said Dr. Mark Rosen, assistant professor of radiology at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center (Philadelphia, USA), and scientific director of the ACR Image Metrix MRI Core Labs. Dr. Rosen is a leading expert on the use of DCE-MRI in clinical research.

DCE-MRI can be a useful adjunctive study in late phase I or phase II drug trials to identify in vivo tumor vascular responsiveness to the study drug. In phase I studies, DCE-MRI may be used to identify a dose-response curve, or to determine the longevity of anti-tumor effect. In phase II studies targeting a smaller number of tumor types, DCE-MRI response may be tracked and compared to downstream clinical markers of efficacy, such as progression-free survival.

"ACR Image Metrix offers its clients an unusually strong scientific perspective, matching the imaging approach to client's imaging needs. We are proud to offer world-class DCE-MRI to our clients with drug development programs addressing vascular pathways,” stated Dr. Bruce Hillman, chief scientific officer at ACR Image Metrix.

ACR Image Metrix has successfully implemented the use of DCE-MRI in clinical research for drug trials and can assist pharmaceutical and biotech companies to appropriately include this technique into their clinical research programs. Moreover, ACR Image Metrix is on the cusp of newer imaging techniques used in drug discovery and development.

ACR Image Metrix, located in the American College of Radiology Clinical Research Center, applies imaging techniques as a predictive and prognostic biomarker improving the efficiency for drug and medical device development programs. The team of physicians and scientists at ACR Image Metrix work with pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies to increase the efficiency of drug and medical device development programs by integrating the appropriate imaging modalities.

Related Links:
American College of Radiology
Image Metrix