These data support further investigation of T1 -weighted OE-MRI to identify regional tumor hypoxia. The quantification of AUCOE has translational potential as a clinical biomarker of hypoxia.

PurposeTo cross-validate T1-weighted oxygen-enhanced (OE) MRI measurements of tumor hypoxia with intrinsic susceptibility MRI measurements and to demonstrate the feasibility of translation of the technique for patients.Materials and MethodsPreclinical studies in nine 786–0-R renal cell carcinoma (RCC) xenografts and prospective clinical studies in eight patients with RCC were performed. Longitudinal relaxation rate changes (∆R1) after 100% oxygen inhalation were quantified, reflecting the paramagnetic effect on tissue protons because of the presence of molecular oxygen. Native transverse relaxation rate (R2*) and oxygen-induced R2* change (∆R2*) were measured, reflecting presence of deoxygenated hemoglobin molecules. Median and voxel-wise values of ∆R1 were compared with values of R2* and ∆R2*. Tumor regions with dynamic contrast agent–enhanced MRI perfusion, refractory to signal change at OE MRI (referred to as perfused Oxy-R), were distinguished from perfused oxygen-enhancing (perfused Oxy-E) and nonperfused regions. R2* and ∆R2* values in each tumor subregion were compared by using one-way analysis of variance.ResultsTumor-wise and voxel-wise ∆R1 and ∆R2* comparisons did not show correlative relationships. In xenografts, parcellation analysis revealed that perfused Oxy-R regions had faster native R2* (102.4 sec–1 vs 81.7 sec–1) and greater negative ∆R2* (−22.9 sec–1 vs −5.4 sec–1), compared with perfused Oxy-E and nonperfused subregions (all P < .001), respectively. Similar findings were present in human tumors (P < .001). Further, perfused Oxy-R helped identify tumor hypoxia, measured at pathologic analysis, in both xenografts (P = .002) and human tumors (P = .003).ConclusionIntrinsic susceptibility biomarkers provide cross validation of the OE MRI biomarker perfused Oxy-R. Consistent relationship to pathologic analyses was found in xenografts and human tumors, demonstrating biomarker translation.Published under a CC BY 4.0 license.Online supplemental material is available for this article.

With the exception of glioma, our hypothesis that different tumour types exhibit different K was not supported. Studies in which tumour permeability is believed to affect outcome should not simply seek tumour types thought to exhibit high permeability. Instead, K is an idiopathic parameter, and, where permeability is important, K should be measured in each tumour to personalise that treatment.