PET and/or MRI Scans in Assessing Tumor Response in Patients Receiving Antiangiogenesis Therapy

The Use of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to Assess the Effects of Anti-neoplastic Therapy on Tumor Associated Vasculature

RATIONALE: Diagnostic procedures, such as PET and MRI scans, may help to measure a patient's response to treatment.

PURPOSE: This diagnostic trial is studying how well PET and/or MRI scans work in assessing changes in tumor blood supply in patients receiving antiangiogenesis therapy.

OBJECTIVES:

• Evaluate the ability of positron emission tomography (PET) to assess the effect of therapy directed against tumor vasculatures on tumor blood flow and tumor blood volume in patients enrolled on a treatment protocol evaluating a therapeutic modality effecting the tumor associated vasculature.
• Evaluate the ability of PET to assess the effects of this type of therapy regimen on tumor uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose in these patients.
• Evaluate the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the effects of therapy directed against the tumor vasculature on tumor blood flow and tumor vascular density in these patients.
• Compare the findings on PET and/or MRI with those obtained from conventional CT in this patient population.

OUTLINE: This is a diagnostic study conducted concurrently with a therapeutic modality study.

Patients have magnetic resonance imaging and/or positron emission tomography (PET) scans performed prior to start of therapy, 6 weeks and 16 weeks following the initiation of therapy, and 6 weeks following the completion of therapy. Each scan requires about 1-3 hours. Patients receive up to 3 different PET scans including tumor blood flow scan with H2015, tumor blood volume scan with 11CO, and glucose uptake scan with fludeoxyglucose F 18.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 145 patients will be accrued for this study within 2 years.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Eligible for a treatment protocol evaluating a therapeutic modality that may have an effect on tumor associated vasculature
• Measurable or evaluable disease by standard CT or MRI
• At least 1 lesion measuring greater than 2 cm in diameter

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Over 18

Performance status:

• Not specified

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Not specified

Hepatic:

• Not specified

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• No pacemakers, aneurysm clips, shrapnel injury, or implantable electronic devices
• Weight no greater than 136 kilograms
• No sensitivity to contrast agents that cannot be controlled with premedication

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• Not specified

Surgery

• Not specified