Assessment of chemoradiotherapy response in glioma with magnetic resonance amide proton transfer imaging in a rodent model.

ABSTRACT

Magnetic resonance amide proton transfer (APT) imaging has proved its potential for detecting tumors and evaluating treatment response by depicting chemical exchange saturation transfer effect between the endogenous protein/peptide amide proton and bulk water. However, conventional asymmetry analysis for APT effect measurement is susceptible to concomitant contributions, particular semisolid magnetic transfer (MT) and nuclear overhauser effect. In this study, dominant saturation transfer (ST) effects, including direct water saturation and MT, were estimated from a sum of two Lorentzian functions. APT effect was then quantified by subtracting the Z-spectrum with the two ST effects. Feasibility of the method in the assessment of glioma therapeutic response was investigated in a rodent model at 3 Tesla.