(ChemotherapyAdvisor) – Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests can be used to predict response of hepatic metastases of pancreatic cancer to therapy, according to an international team of researchers. The conclusion is based on a study entitled “Islet Cell Liver Metastases: Assessment of Volumetric Early Response with Functional MR Imaging after Transarterial Chemoembolization,” which was published in the July 1 issue of Radiology. In this study, the authors aimed to assess early response to transarterial chemoembolization by using volumetric functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in patients with islet cell liver metastases (ICLMs).
Using RECIST criteria, the investigators reported that, at 6-month follow-up, 78 (36.3%) lesions had responded, while 137 (63.7%) showed no response to therapy. The increase in 3D mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was significantly higher in responders than in nonresponders (median, 26.2% vs 10.9%; P<.001). The 3D threshold ADC was 71.1% in responders and 47.6% in nonresponders (P<.001). Decrease in 3D mean arterial enhancement (AE) was significantly higher in responders than in nonresponders (median, 40.5% vs 18.0%; P < .001). Decrease in 3D mean venous enhancement (VE) was significantly higher in responders than in nonresponders (median, 28.0% vs 10.0%; P<.001). The 3D threshold VE and 3D threshold AE did not differ between responders and nonresponders. In unadjusted logistic regression analyses, 3D mean ADC and 3D threshold ADC had the highest odds ratio (1.02 and 1.03, respectively) and the largest area under the ROC curve (0.698 and 0.695, respectively).
The investigators concluded that “volumetric functional MR imaging could be used to predict early response of hepatic ICLMs to therapy and to distinguish between responders and nonresponders.”
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