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Am J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2013;3(4):312-316
Invited Perspective
Molecular MRI of VEGFR-2 reveals intra-tumor and inter-tumor heterogeneity
Feng Chen, Yin Zhang, Weibo Cai
Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin -
Madison, WI, USA; University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
Received June 27, 2013; Accepted July 3, 2013; Epub July 10, 2013; Published July 15, 2013
Abstract: Non-invasive and quantitative imaging of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) expression levels is
highly im-portant in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and patient management. Although various literature reports have investigated the
tumor expression levels of VEGFR-2 using imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography, single-photon emission
computed tomography, targeted ultrasound, etc., accurate evaluation of the dynamic microdistribution of VEGFR-2 in vivo with good
spatial and temporal resolution remains a major challenge. In this issue of the American Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular
Imaging, He at al. reported the use of a VEGFR-2 targeted probe for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of VEGFR-2 in two glioma
models in rats (i.e. C6 and RG2). The heterogeneity of VEGFR-2 expression was non-invasively imaged with MRI and validated with
various in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo experiments. Not only was heterogeneous expression of VEGFR-2 found in different glioma
tumors, it was also observed in different regions within the same tumor (e.g. tumor periphery, peri-necrotic area, and tumor interior).
This report highlights the complex nature of gliomas, which may offer invaluable insights into tumor heterogeneity and potential
clinical management of glioma patients. These patients have dismal clinical outcomes and are in urgent need of better tools to
improve brain tumor treatment. (ajnmmi1306003).
Keywords: Molecular MRI (mMRI), glioma, tumor angiogenesis, VEGFR-2, molecular imaging
Address correspondence to: Dr. Weibo Cai, Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison,
Room 7137, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705-2275, USA. Tel: 1-608-262-1749; Fax: 1-608-265-0614; E-mail:
wcai@uwhealth.org
Invited Perspective
Molecular MRI of VEGFR-2 reveals intra-tumor and inter-tumor heterogeneity
Feng Chen, Yin Zhang, Weibo Cai
Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin -
Madison, WI, USA; University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
Received June 27, 2013; Accepted July 3, 2013; Epub July 10, 2013; Published July 15, 2013
Abstract: Non-invasive and quantitative imaging of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) expression levels is
highly im-portant in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and patient management. Although various literature reports have investigated the
tumor expression levels of VEGFR-2 using imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography, single-photon emission
computed tomography, targeted ultrasound, etc., accurate evaluation of the dynamic microdistribution of VEGFR-2 in vivo with good
spatial and temporal resolution remains a major challenge. In this issue of the American Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular
Imaging, He at al. reported the use of a VEGFR-2 targeted probe for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of VEGFR-2 in two glioma
models in rats (i.e. C6 and RG2). The heterogeneity of VEGFR-2 expression was non-invasively imaged with MRI and validated with
various in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo experiments. Not only was heterogeneous expression of VEGFR-2 found in different glioma
tumors, it was also observed in different regions within the same tumor (e.g. tumor periphery, peri-necrotic area, and tumor interior).
This report highlights the complex nature of gliomas, which may offer invaluable insights into tumor heterogeneity and potential
clinical management of glioma patients. These patients have dismal clinical outcomes and are in urgent need of better tools to
improve brain tumor treatment. (ajnmmi1306003).
Keywords: Molecular MRI (mMRI), glioma, tumor angiogenesis, VEGFR-2, molecular imaging
Address correspondence to: Dr. Weibo Cai, Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison,
Room 7137, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705-2275, USA. Tel: 1-608-262-1749; Fax: 1-608-265-0614; E-mail:
wcai@uwhealth.org
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