Toward precise arterial input functions derived from DCE-MRI through a novel extracorporeal circulation approach in mice

Dispersion-corrected extracorporeal arterial input functions in PET studies of mice: a comparison to intracorporeal microprobe measurements

BACKGROUND

Kinetic modelling of dynamic PET typically requires knowledge of the arterial radiotracer concentration (arterial input function, AIF). Its accurate determination is very difficult in mice. AIF measurements in an extracorporeal shunt can be performed; however, this introduces catheter dispersion. We propose a framework for extracorporeal dispersion correction and validated it by comparison to invasively determined intracorporeal AIFs using implanted microprobes.

RESULTS

The response of an extracorporeal radiation detector to radioactivity boxcar functions, characterised by a convolution-based dispersion model, gave best fits using double-gamma variate and single-gamma variate kernels compared to mono-exponential kernels for the investigated range of flow rates. Parametric deconvolution with the optimal kernels was performed on 9 mice that were injected with a bolus of 39 ± 25 MBq [18F]F-PSMA-1007 after application of an extracorporeal circulation for three different flow rates in order to correct for dispersion. Comparison with synchronous implantation of microprobes for invasive aortic AIF recordings showed favourable correspondence, with no significant difference in terms of area-under-curve after 300 s and 5000 s. One-tissue and two-tissue compartment model simulations were performed to investigate differences in kinetic parameters between intra- and extracorporeally measured AIFs. Results of the modelling study revealed kinetic parameters close to the chosen simulated values in all compartment models.

CONCLUSION

The high correspondence of simultaneously intra- and extracorporeally determined AIFs and resulting model parameters establishes a feasible framework for extracorporeal dispersion correction. This should allow more precise and accurate kinetic modelling in small animal experiments.

Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI in the Abdomen of Mice with High Temporal and Spatial Resolution Using Stack-of-Stars Sampling and KWIC Reconstruction

Application of quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI in mouse models of abdominal cancer is challenging due to the effects of RF inhomogeneity, image corruption from rapid respiratory motion and the need for high spatial and temporal resolutions. Here we demonstrate a DCE protocol optimized for such applications. The method consists of three acquisitions: (1) actual flip-angle B₁ mapping, (2) variable flip-angle T₁ mapping and (3) acquisition of the DCE series using a motion-robust radial strategy with k-space weighted image contrast (KWIC) reconstruction. All three acquisitions employ spoiled radial imaging with stack-of-stars sampling (SoS) and golden-angle increments between the views. This scheme is shown to minimize artifacts due to respiratory motion while simultaneously facilitating view-sharing image reconstruction for the dynamic series. The method is demonstrated in a genetically engineered mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and yielded mean perfusion parameters of K^trans = 0.23 ± 0.14 min⁻¹ and v_e = 0.31 ± 0.17 (n = 22) over a wide range of tumor sizes. The SoS-sampled DCE method is shown to produce artifact-free images with good SNR leading to robust estimation of DCE parameters.

Estimation of Contrast Agent Concentration in DCE-MRI Using 2 Flip Angles

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using 2 flip angles (FAs) with an ultrashort echo time during dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for estimation of plasma gadolinium (Gd) concentration without using a precontrast longitudinal relaxation time T1 (T10) measurement.

METHODS

T1-weighted DCE-MRI experiments were carried out with C57BL/6J mice using the scan protocol with 2 FAs over 3 sequential segments during 1 scan. The data with 2 FAs were used to estimate T10 (T1T) during conversion of a time-intensity curve to the time-concentration curve. Three dosages of gadolinium-based contrast agent were used to achieve a wide range of variability in Gd concentrations when measured at 10 minutes postinjection: 0.05 mmol/kg (n = 6), 0.1 mmol/kg (n = 11), and 0.15 mmol/kg (n = 7). For comparison, the signal-to-concentration conversion was also conducted using the T10 measured from the precontrast scan (T1M) as well as a constant T10 (2.1 seconds) from the literature (T1C). The Gd concentrations ([Gd]) estimated using DCE-MRI data for the time of retro-orbital blood collection ([Gd]T1T, [Gd]T1M, and [Gd]T1C, respectively) were compared against the [Gd] of the blood samples measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ([Gd]MS). In addition, contrast kinetic model analysis was conducted on mice with GL261 brain tumors (n = 5) using the 3 different methods for T10.

RESULTS

T1T strongly correlated with T1M (r = 0.81). [Gd]T1M and [Gd]T1T were significantly different from [Gd]T1C. [Gd]T1M and [Gd]T1T were in good agreement with [Gd]MS with strong correlations (mean percentage error ± standard deviation) of r = 0.70 (16% ± 56%) and r = 0.85 (15% ± 44%), respectively. In contrast, [Gd]T1C had a weak correlation of r = 0.52 with larger errors of 33% ± 24%. The contrast kinetic model parameters of GL261 brain tumors using T1T were not significantly different from those using T1M.

CONCLUSIONS

This study substantiates the feasibility of using the 2-FA approach during DCE-MRI scan to estimate [Gd] in the plasma without using an extra scan to perform precontrast T1 measurements.

Translational imaging of the fibroblast activation protein (FAP) using the new ligand [68Ga]Ga-OncoFAP-DOTAGA

PURPOSE

The fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is an emerging target for molecular imaging and therapy in cancer. OncoFAP is a novel small organic ligand for FAP with very high affinity. In this translational study, we establish [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-OncoFAP-DOTAGA (⁶⁸Ga-OncoFAP) radiolabeling, benchmark its properties in preclinical imaging, and evaluate its application in clinical PET scanning.

METHODS

⁶⁸Ga-OncoFAP was synthesized in a cassette-based fully automated labeling module. Lipophilicity, affinity, and serum stability of ⁶⁸Ga-OncoFAP were assessed by determining logD_7.4, IC₅₀ values, and radiochemical purity. ⁶⁸Ga-OncoFAP tumor uptake and imaging properties were assessed in preclinical dynamic PET/MRI in murine subcutaneous tumor models. Finally, biodistribution and uptake in a variety of tumor types were analyzed in 12 patients based on individual clinical indications that received 163 ± 50 MBq ⁶⁸Ga-OncoFAP combined with PET/CT and PET/MRI.

RESULTS

⁶⁸Ga-OncoFAP radiosynthesis was accomplished with high radiochemical yields. Affinity for FAP, lipophilicity, and stability of ⁶⁸Ga-OncoFAP measured are ideally suited for PET imaging. PET and gamma counting-based biodistribution demonstrated beneficial tracer kinetics and high uptake in murine FAP-expressing tumor models with high tumor-to-blood ratios of 8.6 ± 5.1 at 1 h and 38.1 ± 33.1 at 3 h p.i. Clinical ⁶⁸Ga-OncoFAP-PET/CT and PET/MRI demonstrated favorable biodistribution and kinetics with high and reliable uptake in primary cancers (SUV_max 12.3 ± 2.3), lymph nodes (SUV_max 9.7 ± 8.3), and distant metastases (SUV_max up to 20.0).

CONCLUSION

Favorable radiochemical properties, rapid clearance from organs and soft tissues, and intense tumor uptake validate ⁶⁸Ga-OncoFAP as a powerful alternative to currently available FAP tracers.