Multi Parameter High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy of Tumors

Introduction: Over the past decade, MRI and MRS techniques have merged which allows for interrogation and functional characterisation of the tumor microenvironment non-invasively in living tissues with high resolution [1]. The chaotic vasculature evolution in tumor tissue results in an unbalanced blood supply and heterogeneities in perfusion and oxygenation. Tumor lactate level is an important marker for tumor aggressiveness, the potential for metastatic behaviour, and response to therapy [2]. An MRI and MRS protocol to measure these parameters in vivo on different tumor models was implemented on a high field 17.6 Tesla wide-bore spectrometer. In order to compare the MR-results with data from bioluminescence, these tumors were stained with specific markers and histologicaly processed.