Do Imaging Biomarkers Relate to Outcome in Patients Treated with VEGF Inhibitors?

J. P. B. O'Connor, G. C. Jayson
2012 Clinical Cancer Research  
The management of solid tumors has been transformed by the advent of VEGF pathway inhibitors. Early clinical evaluation of these drugs has used pharmacodynamic biomarkers derived from advanced imaging such as dynamic MRI, computed tomography (CT), and ultrasound to establish proof of principle. We have reviewed published studies that used these imaging techniques to determine whether the same biomarkers relate to survival in renal, hepatocellular, and brain tumors in patients treated with VEGF
more » ... nhibitors. Data show that in renal cancer, pretreatment measurements of K trans and early pharmacodynamic reduction in tumor enhancement and density have prognostic significance in patients treated with VEGF inhibitors. A weaker, but significant, relationship is seen with subtle early size change (10% in one dimension) and survival. Data from high-grade glioma suggest that pretreatment fractional blood volume and K trans were prognostic of overall survival. However, lack of control data with other therapies prevents assessment of the predictive nature of these biomarkers, and such studies are urgently required.
doi:10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-12-1501 pmid:23092875 fatcat:fkgpfhw6knes5fda6akid4ktza