Rationale and objectives

To assess the applicability of a novel macromolecular polyethylene glycol (PEG)-core gadolinium contrast agent for monitoring early antiangiogenic effects of bevacizumab using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials and methods

Athymic rats (n = 26) implanted with subcutaneous human melanoma xenografts underwent DCE-MRI at 2.0 T using two different macromolecular contrast agents. The PEG core cascade polymer PEG12,000-Gen4-(Gd-DOTA)16, designed for clinical development, was compared to the prototype, animal-only, macromolecular contrast medium (MMCM) albumin-(Gd-DTPA)35. The treatment (n = 13) and control (n = 13) group was imaged at baseline and 24 hours after a single dose of bevacizumab (1 mg) or saline to quantitatively assess the endothelial-surface permeability constant (K(PS), μL⋅min⋅100 cm(3)) and the fractional plasma volume (fPV,%), using a two-compartment kinetic model.

Results

Mean K(PS) values, assessed with PEG12,000-Gen4-(Gd-DOTA)16, declined significantly (P < .05) from 29.5 ± 10 μL⋅min⋅100 cm(3) to 10.4 ± 7.8 μL⋅min⋅100 cm(3) by 24 hours after a single dose of bevacizumab. In parallel, K(PS) values quantified using the prototype MMCM albumin-(Gd-DTPA)35 showed an analogous, significant decline (P < .05) in the therapy group. No significant effects were detected on tumor vascularity or on microcirculatory parameters in the control group between the baseline and the follow-up scan at 24 hours.

Conclusion

DCE-MRI enhanced with the novel MMCM PEG12,000-Gen4-(Gd-DOTA)16 was able to monitor the effects of bevacizumab on melanoma xenografts within 24 hours of a single application, validated by the prototype, animal-only albumin-(Gd-DTPA)35. PEG12,000-Gen4-(Gd-DOTA)16 may be a promising candidate for further clinical development as a macromolecular blood pool contrast MRI agent.