1H磁共振波谱在脑胶质瘤的应用进展

磁共振波谱(magnetic resonance spectroscopy,MRS)技术的出现使活体检测组织的代谢和生化信息成为可能,随着其技术的不断成熟,其在临床的应用范围日益扩大.脑胶质瘤具有与正常脑组织不同的代谢特征,借助MRS技术一方面可以反映其代谢特征,另外可将其与正常脑组织区分,因此MRS技术特别是1H-MRS在脑胶质瘤的诊断、鉴别诊断、分级及预后评估中应用日益广泛.本文就相关进展进行综述.     

D W I对脑转移瘤及胶质瘤的应用价值

目的：探讨弥散加权成像（DWI）对脑转移瘤与胶质瘤鉴别诊断的应用价值。方法：对常规MR扫描检出的42例颅内占位痛人行DWI扫描,对病人术后痛理随访后,将高级胶质瘤、低级胶质瘤及脑转移瘤各分成一组,并测定肿瘤区、水肿区、时侧正常脑组织的表观弥散系数（ADC）值及相时ADC（rADC）值。结果：低级胶质瘤与转移瘤的瘤灶rADC值比较存在差异;高级别胶质瘤与转移瘤瘤周水肿的rADC值相比较存在差异。结论：DWI及瘤灶、瘤周rADC值的定量测定对脑转移瘤与胶质瘤的鉴别诊断具有一定的临床应用价值。     

磁共振波谱分析在颅脑胶质瘤分级中的应用研究

目的 分析脑胶质瘤的氢质子磁共振波谱（proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy,1H-MRS）表现及其临床意义;探讨脑胶质瘤的1H-MRS特点与其病理级别相关性.方法 搜集经临床手术、病理证实的脑胶质瘤病例49例,按照WHO诊断标准分成两组：低级别脑胶质瘤组、高级别脑胶质瘤组.所有患者在术前行1H-MRs检查,均在MR非增强成像的基础上获得.使用Philips Achieva 1.5T超导磁共振扫描仪,单体素或多体素扫描,点分辨法,检测不同区域代谢物变化.结果 脑胶质瘤的1H-MRS表现：肌酸（Cr）轻度下降,N-乙酰天门冬氨酸（NAA）显著下降,胆碱（Cho）显著增高.低、高级别脑胶质瘤的肿瘤组织与对侧止常脑组织的NAA、Cho、NAA/Cr、NAA/Cho值存在显著性差异（P〈0.05）;低级别和高级别脑胶质瘤的肿瘤组织的NAA/Cr、NAA/Cho值存在显著性差异（P〈0.05）.脑胶质瘤的NAA/Cho、Cho/Cr、NAA/Cr值与病理级别相关,其中NAA/Cho和NAA/Cr值反映肿瘤级别较稳定;NAA/Cr、NAA/Cho值呈负相关关系,Cho/Cr值呈正相关关系.结论 ：1H-MRS结合MKI能提高脑胶质瘤术前诊断的准确性.1H-MRS能对胶质瘤进行分级,反映胶质瘤代谢特性以及肿瘤生长潜能.     

脑胶质瘤组织中p16基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化检测及其临床意义研究

目的：研究脑胶质瘤中p16基因启动子区甲基化情况及其临床意义。方法：用甲基化特异性PCR技术检测42例脑胶质瘤组织和癌旁正常脑组织中p16基因启动子甲基化,并分析该基因启动子甲基化与临床病理特征之间的关系。结果：脑胶质瘤组织中p16基因异常甲基化率（38.27%）显著高于癌旁正常脑组织中p16基因的异常甲基化率（8.8%,P=0.000）。发生甲基化的肿瘤组织或者正常脑组织中p16基因mRNA和蛋白表达显著降低。此外,p16基因异常甲基化和肿瘤病理分级有相关性（P=0.007）,而与患者性别、年龄及肿瘤类型等临床特征无关（P=0.669,0.869和0.944）。结论：p16基因启动子区CpG岛高甲基化与p16表达下调相关,推测p16启动子区CpG岛高甲基化是导致p16基因在脑胶质瘤中表达下调的重要因素,有望成为脑胶质瘤早期辅助诊断的分子标志物之一。     

脑胶质瘤中心体的异常扩增及其与疾病分期的相关性

目的:探讨脑胶质瘤中心体扩增情况及其与疾病分期的相关性。方法:对40例胶质瘤标本和10例正常脑组织标本进行HE染色的检测;免疫组织化学检测Ki67和γ-微管蛋白的表达;使用免疫荧光染色技术检测中心体扩增情况。结果:不同标本中,HE染色呈现不同的细胞形态特征;Ki67在正常脑组织中没有表达,但在Ⅰ/Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ级胶质瘤中的阳性表达率分别为65%、80%和100%,各组间差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01),说明Ki67的表达与胶质瘤级别相关。γ-微管蛋白在正常脑组织和Ⅰ/Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ级胶质瘤中的表达率分别为30%、50%、80%和100%,各组间差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01),说明胶质瘤级别升高,中心体扩增率增加;免疫荧光检测显示,中心体扩增率和脑胶质瘤的级别呈正相关。结论:中心体扩增是脑胶质瘤的恶性程度的特征之一,并且与胶质瘤发病阶段有关,提示中心体扩增和脑胶质瘤的发展具有密切的相关性。     

Stathmin 在微血管内皮细胞的表达与胶质瘤恶性程度关系

目的:检测Stathmin在正常脑组织及不同级别胶质瘤微血管内皮细胞中的表达情况。方法:利用结合CD105单克隆抗体的免疫磁珠内皮细胞分选系统特异性分选出68例胶质瘤微血管内皮细胞(其中低级别胶质瘤(WHO分级Ⅰ-Ⅱ)24例,高级别胶质瘤(WHO分级Ⅲ-Ⅳ)44例)和20例正常脑组织微血管内皮细胞。应用免疫组化、RT-PCR和Western blot检测Stathmin在胶质瘤微血管内皮细胞和正常脑组织微血管内皮细胞中的表达。结果:免疫组化证实Stathmin在正常脑组织微血管内皮细胞、低级别胶质瘤微血管内皮细胞和高级别胶质瘤微血管内皮细胞的表达百分率分别是20%,66%和95%(P<0.05)。RT-PCR和Western blot法检测显示,Stathmin在胶质瘤微血管内皮细胞中的表达明显增高。低级别胶质瘤组、高级别胶质瘤组分别与正常组比较,均有显著性差异(P<0.01);且低级别胶质瘤组与高级别胶质瘤组比较,有显著性差异(P<0.01),随着胶质瘤恶性程度的增加,Stathmin表达上调,具有统计学意义。结论:Stathmin在脑胶质瘤微血管内皮细胞中表达随肿瘤恶性程度增高而增加,可能为脑胶质瘤的生物治疗提供一个新靶点。     

磁共振灌注加权成像与弥散加权成像在脑胶质瘤分级诊断中的应用

目的:探讨磁共振灌注加权成像(perfusion weighted imaging,PWI)与弥散加权成像(diffusion weighted imaging,DWI)在脑胶质瘤分级诊断中的应用价值。方法:选取2012年1月-2017年6月在我院就诊并经病理证实为脑胶质瘤患者100例,其中高、低级别胶质瘤患者各44、56例。对所有患者行PWI、DWI检查,比较肿瘤不同区域表观扩散系数(apparent diffusion coefficient,ADC)、局部脑血流量(regional cerebral blood flow,rCBF),不同级别肿瘤实质区、瘤周水肿区rADC、rrCBF,根据ROC曲线分析rADC、rrCBF对不同级别胶质瘤的诊断阈值、敏感性、特异性。结果:与对侧相应正常脑实质比较,瘤周水肿区及肿瘤实质区ADC、rCBF均显著升高(P0.05);与瘤周水肿区比较,肿瘤实质区ADC、rCBF均显著升高(P0.05)。高级别肿瘤实质区rADC显著低于低级别肿瘤实质区(P0.05),rrCBF显著高于肿瘤实质区(P0.05)。高级别瘤周水肿区与低级别瘤周水肿区rADC间无显著差异(P0.05),高级别瘤周水肿区rrCBF显著高于低级别瘤周水肿区(P0.05)。在对高、低级别脑胶质瘤的分级中,rADC、rrCBF的曲线下面积(under the receiver operating characteristic curve,AUC)分别为0.957、0.978,均0.9。rADC诊断不同分级胶质瘤的敏感度是90.12%,特异度是95.26%,诊断阈值是13.12;rrCBF诊断不同分级胶质瘤的敏感度是92.31%,特异度是98.57%,诊断阈值是2.62。rADC与rrCBF诊断不同分级胶质瘤敏感度、特异度间无显著差异(P0.05)。结论:PWI、DWI能够为脑胶质瘤的分级诊断提供参考依据。     

MMP-9和PTEN在胶质瘤中的表达及相关性分析

目的：检测脑胶质瘤组织中MMP-9和PTEN表达情况并探讨其意义。方法：采用免疫组织化学S-P法检测50例脑胶质瘤、10例正常脑组织中两者的表达。结果：脑胶质瘤组织中MMP一9和PTEN表达定位于细胞浆,其阳性表达率分别为74．00％（37／50）和60．00％（30／60）与正常脑组织0、100％有差异（P〈0．05）。两者的表达与胶质瘤患者的年龄、性别无明显相关性（P〉O．05）,但高级别组与低级别组之间表达有差异,具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;在脑胶质瘤组织中MMP-9蛋白的阳性表达与PTEN蛋白的阳性表达有相关性,二者呈负相关（P〈0．05）。结论：MMP．9蛋白在胶质瘤组织中的表达明显高于正常脑组织,并且高级别胶质瘤组的表达明显高于低级别胶质瘤组中的表达,提示MMP-9可能与胶质瘤的浸润、发展、转移有关,可作为一个预测胶质瘤侵袭转移能力的肿瘤标志物。PTEN蛋白在正常脑组织中的表达明显高于胶质瘤,且高级别组表达明显高于低级别组,提示PTEN基因突变或缺失在胶质瘤的发生发展中起重要作用,且与肿瘤恶性分化程度密切相关,表明PTEN的失活预示着一个特殊的进展性的临床行为,在胶质瘤恶性进展中属于较晚发生的分子事件。     

基于数据挖掘分析POLR2A基因在脑胶质瘤的表达及意义

目的:基于数据挖掘分析POLR2A基因在低级别脑胶质瘤及正常脑组织中的表达情况,进一步探讨POLR2A基因对低级别脑胶质瘤患者的预后意义。方法:利用Oncomine和GEPIA数据库对POLR2A基因mRNA在正常脑组织和低级别脑胶质瘤组织中的表达进行分析;通过cBioportal分析POLR2A基因在低级别脑胶质瘤组织中的突变情况;利用Onco Lnc数据库对POLR2A基因的表达水平与低级别脑胶质瘤患者生存率做Kaplan-Meier生存分析;使用String-DB数据库探索真核生物表达调控过程中的POLR2A相关蛋白。结果:与正常脑组织相比,低级别脑胶质瘤组织中的POLR2A基因mRNA水平呈显著高表达(P≤0.05);POLR2A基因的表达水平与低级别脑胶质瘤患者的总生存时间无明显相关性;POLR2A基因在低级别脑胶质瘤组织中存在高突变率;真核生物RNA聚合酶POLR2E、POLR2F、POLR2G、POLR2K、POLR2L等与POLR2A有明显的相互作用。结论:数据库中荟萃了POLR2A基因在低级别脑胶质瘤组织中表达的相关信息,证实POLR2A基因在低级别脑胶质瘤组织中呈高表达。     

人脑胶质瘤细胞中GDNF 基因启动子1 区甲基化状态的研究

目的:观察GDNF启动子1区在人脑胶质瘤细胞中的甲基化修饰状态,以期探讨其对于GDNF在胶质瘤中高表达的影响。方法:基因测序检测10例胶质瘤与5例正常脑组织中GDNF基因序列,比较其基因是否有突变发生;重亚硫酸盐修饰后基因测序检测20例胶质瘤(10例低级别和10例高级别)与5例正常脑组织中GDNF启动子1区甲基化修饰状态。结果:GDNF启动子1区基因在胶质瘤中没有发生突变;GDNF启动子1区甲基化修饰在正常脑组织、低级别、高级别中发生率分别为72.25%、86.25%、86.75%。在胶质瘤中的甲基化修饰水平比正常脑组织明显增高(P<0.05),而高低级别之间无显著性差异。结论:在胶质瘤细胞中,GDNF启动子1区发生了高甲基化修饰,这种修饰很可能会影响GDNF基因的表达。     

3.0T 1H-MRS对脑胶质瘤及脑转移瘤的鉴别诊断

目的：利用3.0T氢质子磁共振波谱对胶质瘤和转移瘤的肿瘤组织区、瘤周水肿区进行细胞代谢物水平的检测,试图找出胶质瘤和脑转移瘤的鉴别诊断的依据,以及胶质瘤高、低级别组间的差别。方法：对经病理证实的20例高级别胶质瘤组、16例低级别胶质瘤组和19例脑转移瘤组患者,先行MRI平扫及增强扫描,波谱均在增强扫描的基础上获得,使用MR点分辨波谱序列,检测肿瘤组织区、瘤周水肿组织区NAA/Cr、Cho/Cr、NAA/Cho、NAA、Cho、Cr、Lip/Lac等值,进行比较。结果：（1）高级别胶质瘤与转移瘤在肿瘤组织区NAA/Cr代谢物浓度的比值有统计学意义。（2）高、低级别胶质瘤肿瘤组织内Cho/Cr比值有统计学意义。（3）转移瘤与高、低级别胶质瘤在瘤周水肿区NAA/Cr,以及低级别胶质瘤与转移瘤Cho/Cr代谢物浓度的比值有统计学意义;高级别胶质瘤与转移瘤瘤周区NAA代谢物浓度有明显差异。（4）胶质瘤高、低级别组间在肿瘤周围区NAA峰、Cho峰及NAA/Cho Cho/Cr代谢物浓度比值有统计学意义。（5）高级别胶质瘤和转移瘤分别与低级别胶质瘤在肿瘤组织区及瘤周水肿区Lip/Lac有显著性差异（P〈0.01）。结论：利用氢质子波谱可对胶质瘤和转移瘤进行鉴别诊断;Cho/Cr及NAA/Cho比值可对胶质瘤进行分级;Lip/Lac峰的出现与肿瘤的恶性度呈正相关,但不特异。     

Traumatic Brain Injury in the Rat: Alterations in Brain Lactate and pH as Characterized by 1H and 31P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Application of both phosphorus (31P) and proton (1H) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to the study of brain metabolism permits the noninvasive measurement of intracellular pH and brain lactate level. We have used water-suppression 1H MRS with novel lactate-editing techniques, together with 31P MRS, to characterize sequential changes in brain lactate level and pH in vivo over an 8-h period following fluid-percussion brain injury of graded severity in the rat. A transient fall in intracellular pH (from 7.09 +/- 0.07 at baseline to 6.88 +/- 0.09 at 40 min postinjury) occurred in animals subjected to moderate- (1.5-2.2 atm) and high- (2.5-3.3 atm) but not low-level (0.1-1.2 atm) injury; intracellular pH returned to baseline by 90 min postinjury. Transient elevations in brain lactate level were observed that temporally paralleled and were significantly correlated with the pH changes for all injury levels (r = 0.93, p less than 0.001). Postinjury alterations in intracellular brain pH and lactate level were identical in magnitude in animals subjected to either moderate or high-level injury. However, animals subjected to moderate injury had a moderate chronic neurological deficit that persisted up to 4 weeks postinjury, whereas animals subjected to a high level of injury showed greater histopathological damage and a more severe chronic neurological deficit. These data suggest that the extent of posttraumatic intracellular cerebral acidosis in our model of experimental head injury is not directly related to the severity of functional neurological deficit.     

^1HMRS在定性诊断乙肝后早期肝硬化中的初步研究

目的：研究慢性乙型肝炎后早期肝硬化患者的氢质子磁共振波谱图像特点,旨在探讨^1HMRS成像技术诊断慢乙肝后早期肝硬化的可行性,为早期肝硬化的定性诊断提供新的方法。方法：首先,筛选出15例健康志愿者及15例慢乙肝后早期肝硬化患者。并将15例患者依据肝穿结果分为S2期、S3期和S4期三组;然后,对15例健康志愿者及15例慢乙肝后肝硬化组患者进行常规MRI扫描,包括三平面定位,横断面T1加权像（T1WI）、T2加权像（T2WI）,于T2WI上选取感兴趣区进行单体素氢质子波谱扫描。分别采集各化合物峰,通过GE公司波谱分析软件校正,测量各波峰峰值和峰下面积,分析正常组和病例组各波峰和峰下面积变化特征。结果：正常组均得到谷氨酸和谷氨酰氨复合物（glumatic acid and glutamylamnnia complex,GIX）峰与胆碱／磷酸肌酸（choline／phosphoric creatine acid,Cho／Pcr）峰,病例纽除上述两峰外,还得到乳酸（Lactate,Lac）峰和脂质（Lipid,Lip）峰。经统计学分析正常组与病例组Glx、Cho／Pcr峰值及峰下面积无明显差异（P〉0．05）,而Lac、Lip峰值及峰下面积有差异统计学意义（P〈0.05）。病例组内的S2、S3及S4期三组各自的Glx、Cho／Pcr、Lac、Lip峰值及峰下面积差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论：1H磁共振波谱成像技术是一种非创伤性定性检测慢乙肝后早期肝硬化的方法。     

Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy: its utility in examining the membrane hypothesis of schizophrenia

A novel approach to understanding the pathophysiology of schizophrenia has been the investigation of membrane composition and functional perturbations, referred to as the "Membrane Hypothesis of Schizophrenia." The evidence in support of this hypothesis has been accumulating in findings in patients with schizophrenia of reductions in phospholipids and essential fatty acids various peripheral tissues. Postmortem studies indicate similar reductions in essential fatty acids in the brain. However, the use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has provided an opportunity to examine aspects of membrane biochemistry in vivo in the living brain. MRS is a powerful, albeit complex, noninvasive quantitative imaging tool that offers several advantages over other methods of in vivo biochemical investigations. It has been used extensively in investigating brain biochemistry in schizophrenia. Phosphorus MRS (31P MRS) can provide important information about neuronal membranes, such as levels of phosphomonoesters that reflect the building blocks of neuronal membranes and phosphodiesters that reflect breakdown products. 31P MRS can also provide information about bioenergetics. Studies in patients with chronic schizophrenia as well as at first episode prior to treatment show a variety of alterations in neuronal membrane biochemistry, supportive of the membrane hypothesis of schizophrenia. Below, we will briefly review the principles underlying 31P MRS and findings to date. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a powerful, albeit complex, imaging tool that permits investigation of brain biochemistry in vivo. It utilizes the magnetic resonance imaging hardware. It offers several advantages over other methods of in vivo biochemical investigations. MRS is noninvasive, there is no radiation exposure, does not require the use of tracer ligands or contrast media. Because of it is relatively benign, repeated measures are possible. It has been used extensively in investigating brain biochemistry in schizophrenia.     

Biochemical characterization of breast tumors by in vivo and in vitro magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) have evolved as sensitive tools for anatomic and metabolic evaluation of breast cancer. In vivo MRS studies have documented the presence of choline containing compounds (tCho) as a reliable biochemical marker of malignancy and also useful for monitoring the tumor response to therapy. Recent studies on the absolute quantification of tCho are expected to provide cut-off values for discrimination of various breast pathologies. Addition of MRS investigation was also reported to increase the specificity of MRI. Further, ex vivo and in vitro MRS studies of intact tissues and tissue extracts provided several metabolites that were not be detected in vivo and provided insight into underlying biochemistry of the disease processes. In this review, we present briefly the role of various ¹H MRS methods used in breast cancer research and their potential in relation to diagnosis, monitoring of therapeutic response and metabolism.     

Brain Magnetic Resonance in the Diagnostic Evaluation of Mitochondrial Encephalopathies

Brain MR imaging techniques are important ancillary tests in the diagnosis of a suspected mitochondrial encephalopathy since they provide details on brain structural and metabolic abnormalities. This is particularly true in children where non-specific neurologic symptoms are common, biochemical findings can be marginal and genetic defects may be not discovered. MR imaging modalities include conventional, or structural, imaging (MRI) and functional, or ultrastructural, imaging (spectroscopy, MRS; diffusion, DWI-ADC; perfusion, DSCI––ASL). Among them MRI and MRS are the main tools for diagnosis and work up of MD, and this review will focus mainly on them. The MRI findings of MD are very heterogeneous, as they depend on the metabolic brain defects, age of the patient, stage and severity of the disease. No correlation has been found between genetic defects and neuroimaging picture; however, some relationships between MR findings and clinical phenotypes may be identified. Different combinations of MRI signal abnormalities are often encountered but the most common findings may be summarized into three main MR patterns: (i) non-specific; (ii) specific; (iii) leukodystrophic-like. Regarding the functional MR techniques, only proton MRS plays an important role in demonstrating an oxidative metabolism impairment in the brain since it can show the accumulation of lactate, present as a doublet peak at 1.33 ppm. Assessment of lactate should be always performed on brain tissue and on the ventricular cerebral spinal fluid. As for MRI, metabolic MRS abnormalities can be of different types, and two distinct patterns can be recognized: non-specific and specific. The specific metabolic profiles, although not frequent to find, are highly pathognomonic of MD. The un-specific metabolic profiles add value to structural images in allowing to define the lesion load and to monitor the response to therapy trials.     

In vivo assessment of nodularin-induced hepatotoxicity in the rat using magnetic resonance techniques (MRI, MRS and EPR oximetry)

Acute nodularin-induced hepatotoxicity was assessed in vivo, in rats using magnetic resonance (MR) techniques, including MR imaging (MRI), MR spectroscopy (MRS), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry. Nodularin is a cyclic hepatotoxin isolated from the cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena. Three hours following the intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of nodularin (LD50), a region of 'damage', characterized by an increase in signal intensity, was observed proximal to the porta hepatis (PH) region in T2-weighted MR images of rat liver. Image analysis of these regions of apparent 'damage' indicated a statistically significant increase in signal intensity around the PH region following nodularin administration, in comparison with controls and regions peripheral to the PH region. An increase in signal intensity was also observed proximal to the PH region in water chemical shift selective images (CSSI) of nodularin-treated rat livers, indicating that the increased signal observed by MRI is an oedematous response to the toxin. Microscopic assessment (histology and electron microscopy) and serum liver enzyme function tests (aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate ALT (AST)) confirmed the nodularin-induced tissue injury observed by MRI. In vivo and in vitro MRS was used to detect alterations in metabolites, such as lipids, Glu+Gln, and choline, during the hepatotoxic response (2-3 h post-exposure). Biochemical assessment of perchloric acid extracts of nodularin-treated rat livers were used to confirm the MRS results. In vivo EPR oximetry was used to monitor decreasing hepatic pO2 (approximately 2-fold from controls) 2-3 h following nodularin exposure. In vivo MR techniques (MRI, MRS and EPR oximetry) are able to highlight effects that may not have been evident in single end point studies, and are ideal methods to follow tissue injury progression in longitudinally, increasing the power of a study through repeated measures, and decreasing the number of animals to perform a similar study using histological or biochemical techniques.     

Diffusion Tensor Imaging in brain tumors: A study on gliomas and metastases

PurposeTo explore the role of Diffusion Tensor Imaging in preoperative glioma grading, as well as in differentiation between gliomas and metastatic brain tumors. We measured diffusion tensor variables in enhancement and edema regions, which were compared between the different subject groups.Materials and methodsWe performed DTI in 48 patients (11 Low Grade Gliomas, 27 High Grade Gliomas, 10 Single Metastatic brain tumors). We measured FA, λ1, λ2, λ3, ADC, Cl, Cp, Cs, RA, and VR in enhancing portions of tumors and edema regions. Additionally, ratios of enhancement to edema values were created for each variable.ResultsIn peritumoral edema, Cl and RA were proven to be significantly different in pair-wise comparisons, in addition to ADC, Cp, Cs and VR in enhancement regions. Enhancement to edema values were significantly different as well.ConclusionDiffusion tensor indices could be used for the differentiation between low and high grade gliomas, as well as for distinction between gliomas and metastases.     

In vivo detection of c-Met expression in a rat C6 glioma model

The tyrosine kinase receptor, c-Met, and its substrate, the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), are implicated in the malignant progression of glioblastomas. In vivo detection of c-Met expression may be helpful in the diagnosis of malignant tumours. The C6 rat glioma model is a widely used intracranial brain tumour model used to study gliomas experimentally. We used a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) molecular targeting agent to specifically tag the cell surface receptor, c-Met, with an anti-c-Met antibody (Ab) linked to biotinylated Gd (gadolinium)-DTPA (diethylene triamine penta acetic acid)-albumin in rat gliomas to detect overexpression of this antigen in vivo. The anti-c-Met probe (anti-c-Met-Gd-DTPA-albumin) was administered intravenously, and as determined by an increase in MRI signal intensity and a corresponding decrease in regional T(1) relaxation values, this probe was found to detect increased expression of c-Met protein levels in C6 gliomas. In addition, specificity for the binding of the anti-c-Met contrast agent was determined by using fluorescence microscopic imaging of the biotinylated portion of the targeting agent within neoplastic and 'normal'brain tissues following in vivo administration of the anti-c-Met probe. Controls with no Ab or with a normal rat IgG attached to the contrast agent component indicated no non-specific binding to glioma tissue. This is the first successful visualization of in vivo overexpression of c-Met in gliomas.