MRI surveillance of cancer cell fate in a brain metastasis model after early radiotherapy

Abstract

Radiotherapy, when given early in cancer progression, is effective in preventing the outgrowth of solitary cancer cells to brain metastases. Future studies of the nonproliferative cancer cells' clonogenic potentials are warranted, given that their persistent presence suggests that they may have evaded treatment. Magn Reson Med 78:1506-1512, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Using MRI cell tracking to monitor immune cell recruitment in response to a peptide‐based cancer vaccine

“…MRI imaging can also be used to track specific cell populations labeled with SPIO (26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31). Previous research using MRI has achieved in vivo detection and visualization of single cells labeled with SPIO (32,33), which has been used to follow metastases originating from single cells visible by MRI (34). In addition, MRI has been used to track the migration of cells injected for direct therapeutic effect for various diseases, including dendritic and cytotoxic T cell injections used as cancer therapies (30,31,(35)(36)(37).…”

Cranial irradiation increases tumor growth in experimental breast cancer brain metastasis

“…Computerized collimators were positioned to create a 10 × 14‐mm 2 field that encompassed the brain and shielded the remainder of the mouse head and body. The whole brain was irradiated using two equal‐weighted, parallel‐opposed beams for a cumulative dose of 10 Gy, as described and validated previously . All irradiated mice received their full 10‐Gy dose and no irradiated mice showed any outward sign of adverse effects caused by the irradiation treatment.…”

“…The whole brain was irradiated using two equal-weighted, parallel-opposed beams for a cumulative dose of 10 Gy, as described and validated previously. 18,24 All irradiated mice received their full 10-Gy dose and no irradiated mice showed any outward sign of adverse effects caused by the irradiation treatment. Control mice were handled and anesthetized, but received no RT.…”

“…To aid this investigation, we employed the use of cellular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques that enable the study of brain metastasis development longitudinally with high spatial resolution, good tumor to normal tissue contrast and single‐cell sensitivity . A key aspect of this study was our ability to use iron cell labeling and MRI to track initial cancer cell arrest, as well as tumor progression, over time.…”

“…In the current study, we investigated the influence of radiation-induced damage on the arrest and growth of metastatic breast cancer cells in the brain using an immune-competent mouse model of TNBC.Abbreviations used: 231BR, MDA-MB231BR human brain tropic breast cancer metastatic cell line; 3-D bSSFP, three-dimensional balanced steady-state free precession; 4T1-BR5, murine brain tropic breast cancer metastatic cell line; BBB, blood-brain barrier; bSSFP, balanced steady-state free precession; COX-2, cyclooxygenase-2; DAB, 3,3′-diaminobenzidine; DMEM, Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium; FBS, fetal bovine serum; ICAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1; IgG, immunoglobulin G; IHC, immunohistochemistry; IL6, interleukin 6; IO, iron oxide nanoparticles; MHC II, major histocompatibility complex class 2; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; PPB, Perls Prussian blue; RT, whole-brain radiotherapy; SEM, standard error of the mean; TE, echo time; TNBC, triple negative breast cancer; TNFα, tumor necrosis factor alpha; TR, repetition time To aid this investigation, we employed the use of cellular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques that enable the study of brain metastasis development longitudinally with high spatial resolution, good tumor to normal tissue contrast and single-cell sensitivity. [14][15][16][17][18][19] A key aspect of this study was our ability to use iron cell labeling and MRI to track initial cancer cell arrest, as well as tumor progression, over time. This approach could not be successfully conducted with traditional histological methods.…”