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Biomedical subjects

James M Provenzale

Publications and source records attributed to James M Provenzale.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Imaging of angiogenesis: clinical techniques and novel imaging methods.

OBJECTIVE: A wide variety of antiangiogenic agents have been developed for the treatment of neoplasms. Imaging studies play an important role in assessing the effects of these treatments. CONCLUSION: This review article introduces radiologists to features of these therapies and the most important clinical and preclinical imaging techniques for evaluating antiangiogenic agents.

Humans↗

Aging, gender, and the elderly adult brain: an examination of analytical strategies.

We sought to examine the relations between age, gender and brain volumes in an elderly population; we also sought to examine ways of measuring these relations. Three sets of analyses were used: correlational analyses, in which correlations between independent variables and brain volumes were calculated without correction for intracranial volume (ICV); covariational analyses, in which ICV was used as a covariate in regression equations; and ratio analyses, in which the dependent variable was the ratio of brain volume to ICV. These analyses yielded similar results, except that (as expected) adjusting for ICV altered estimates of gender differences. Analyses of age showed decreases in left caudate, putamen, and right hippocampus and an increase in CSF, a result generally in accord with previous findings. However, we also found a significant decrease of white-matter volumes and no significant decrease in total gray-matter volumes. Correlational analyses showed that men did not always have larger volumes despite their larger head size; women generally had larger volumes after adjusting for ICV. We found no age-gender interactions.

Aged↗

Differences in brain volumes among males and female hormone-therapy users and nonusers.

Numerous studies have shown gender differences in the brain volumes of elderly adults. Some evidence shows that higher estrogen levels may be neuroprotective, suggesting that hormone therapy (HT) may in part be responsible for these gender differences; however, few studies have examined the relation between HT and brain volumes. Brain volumes of caudate, putamen, hippocampus, gray matter, white matter, white-matter lesions, and cerebrospinal fluid were measured on magnetic resonance imaging scans. A comprehensive neuropsychological battery was administered. Women were separated into two groups based on HT use, and we used multiple regression analyses to compare these groups with one another and with men. Results of brain-volume measurements showed that HT users had significantly less gray matter and more cerebrospinal fluid than nonusers. Results of the neuropsychological testing showed that HT users performed better on the Shipley Vocabulary Test than males did.

Aged↗

Adult age differences in the functional neuroanatomy of visual attention: a combined fMRI and DTI study.

We combined measures from event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and cognitive performance (visual search response time) to test the hypotheses that differences between younger and older adults in top-down (goal-directed) attention would be related to cortical activation, and that white matter integrity as measured by DTI (fractional anisotropy, FA) would be a mediator of this age-related effect. Activation in frontal and parietal cortical regions was overall greater for older adults than for younger adults. The relation between activation and search performance supported the hypothesis of age differences in top-down attention. When the task involved top-down control (increased target predictability), performance was associated with frontoparietal activation for older adults, but with occipital (fusiform) activation for younger adults. White matter integrity (FA) exhibited an age-related decline that was more pronounced for anterior brain regions than for posterior regions, but white matter integrity did not specifically mediate the age-related increase in activation of the frontoparietal attentional network.

Adult↗

Phase 1 trial of gefitinib plus sirolimus in adults with recurrent malignant glioma.

PURPOSE: To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of gefitinib, a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor, plus sirolimus, an inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin, among patients with recurrent malignant glioma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Gefitinib and sirolimus were administered on a continuous daily dosing schedule at dose levels that were escalated in successive cohorts of malignant glioma patients at any recurrence who were stratified based on concurrent use of CYP3A-inducing anticonvulsants [enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs, (EIAED)]. Pharmacokinetic and archival tumor biomarker data were also assessed. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients with progressive disease after prior radiation therapy and chemotherapy were enrolled, including 29 (85%) with glioblastoma multiforme and 5 (15%) with anaplastic glioma. The MTD was 500 mg of gefitinib plus 5 mg of sirolimus for patients not on EIAEDs and 1,000 mg of gefitinib plus 10 mg of sirolimus for patients on EIAEDs. DLTs included mucositis, diarrhea, rash, thrombocytopenia, and hypertriglyceridemia. Gefitinib exposure was not affected by sirolimus administration but was significantly lowered by concurrent EIAED use. Two patients (6%) achieved a partial radiographic response, and 13 patients (38%) achieved stable disease. CONCLUSION: We show that gefitinib plus sirolimus can be safely coadministered on a continuous, daily dosing schedule, and established the recommended dose level of these agents in combination for future phase 2 clinical trials.

Administration, Oral↗

Salvage radioimmunotherapy with murine iodine-131-labeled antitenascin monoclonal antibody 81C6 for patients with recurrent primary and metastatic malignant brain tumors: phase II study results.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and toxicity of intraresection cavity iodine-131-labeled murine antitenascin monoclonal antibody 81C6 (131I-m81C6) among recurrent malignant brain tumor patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this phase II trial, 100 mCi of 131I-m81C6 was injected directly into the surgically created resection cavity (SCRC) of 43 patients with recurrent malignant glioma (glioblastoma multiforme [GBM], n = 33; anaplastic astrocytoma [AA], n = 6; anaplastic oligodendroglioma [AO], n = 2; gliosarcoma [GS], n = 1; and metastatic adenocarcinoma, n = 1) followed by chemotherapy. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 172 weeks, 63% and 59% of patients with GBM/GS and AA/AO tumors were alive at 1 year. Median overall survival for patients with GBM/GS and AA/AO tumors was 64 and 99 weeks, respectively. Ten patients (23%) developed acute hematologic toxicity. Five patients (12%) developed acute reversible neurotoxicity. One patient (2%) developed irreversible neurotoxicity. No patients required reoperation for radionecrosis. CONCLUSION: In this single-institution phase II study, administration of 100 mCi of 131I-m81C6 to recurrent malignant glioma patients followed by chemotherapy is associated with a median survival that is greater than that of historical controls treated with surgery plus iodine-125 brachytherapy. Furthermore, toxicity was acceptable. Administration of a fixed millicurie dose resulted in a wide range of absorbed radiation doses to the SCRC. We are now conducting a phase II trial, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, using patient-specific 131I-m81C6 dosing, to deliver 44 Gy to the SCRC followed by standardized chemotherapy. A phase III multicenter trial with patient-specific dosing is planned.

Adult↗

Diffusion-weighted and perfusion MR imaging for brain tumor characterization and assessment of treatment response.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and perfusion MR imaging are advanced techniques that provide information not available from conventional MR imaging. In particular, these techniques have a number of applications with regard to characterization of tumors and assessment of tumor response to therapy. In this review, the authors describe the fundamental principles of diffusion-weighted and perfusion MR imaging and provide an overview of the ways in which these techniques are being used to characterize tumors by helping distinguish tumor types, assess tumor grade, and attempt to determine tumor margins. In addition, the role of these techniques for evaluating response to tumor therapy is outlined.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Correlation of relative permeability and relative cerebral blood volume in high-grade cerebral neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to correlate the degree of contrast enhancement on dynamic contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI and the relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) values on T2*-weighted MRI in patients with high-grade brain neoplasms. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ten patients with biopsy-proven high-grade gliomas underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI using T1-weighted fast spoiled gradient-echo technique (TR/TE, 8.3/1.5) during i.v. infusion of 0.1 mmol/kg of MR contrast medium. This sequence was followed within 5 minutes by dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) imaging (1,500/80) during i.v. infusion of 0.2 mmol/kg of MR contrast medium. Dynamic contrast-enhanced analysis was performed using the maximum-signal-intensity algorithm, and DSC analysis was performed using the negative enhancement integral program. For each tumor, we performed two comparisons: first, the average dynamic contrast-enhanced and rCBV values within a region of interest drawn around the entire contrast-enhancing tumor on a single image through the center of the lesion and, second, the highest dynamic contrast-enhanced and highest rCBV values within each tumor. Statistical analyses of the first comparison were performed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, R2 correlation coefficient, and Spearman's rank correlation and for the second comparison using Kendall's tau correlation. RESULTS: The mean signal intensity values ranged between 3.48 and 7.16 SDs above baseline values (mean, 4.89 SDs). The mean rCBV values ranged between 57.9% and 122.7% of the normal lentiform nucleus (mean, 76.6%). The Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.867, the R2 correlation coefficient was 0.752, and the Spearman's rank correlation was 0.794 (p = 0.001). Dynamic contrast-enhanced values from the region of highest signal intensity ranged between 7.7 and 48.6 SDs above baseline values (mean, 17.3 SDs). The highest rCBV values ranged between 105% and 400% of the normal lentiform nucleus (mean, 292%). The correlation was estimated to be 0.7778 and was statistically significant at the 0.01 level of statistical significance (p = 0.0035). CONCLUSION: We found a high correlation between degree of contrast enhancement on dynamic contrast-enhanced images and rCBV values in whole tumors and in regions having the highest degree of contrast enhancement in this small study. Our findings, which suggest that relative permeability and rCBV values may be correlated in high-grade glial neoplasms, deserve further study in a larger patient population.

Adult↗

A liposomal nanoscale contrast agent for preclinical CT in mice.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine if an iodinated, liposomal contrast agent could be used for high-resolution, micro-CT of low-contrast, small-size vessels in a murine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A second-generation, liposomal blood pool contrast agent encapsulating a high concentration of iodine (83-105 mg I/mL) was evaluated. A total of five mice weighing between 20 and 28 g were infused with equivalent volume doses (500 microL of contrast agent/25 g of mouse weight) and imaged with our micro-CT system for intervals of up to 240 min postinfusion. The animals were anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, and vital signs monitored allowing for simultaneous cardiac and respiratory gating of image acquisition. RESULTS: Initial enhancement of about 900 H in the aorta was obtained, which decreased to a plateau level of approximately 800 H after 2 hr. Excellent contrast discrimination was shown between the myocardium and cardiac blood pool (650-700 H). No significant nephrogram was identified, indicating the absence of renal clearance of the agent. CONCLUSION: The liposomal-based iodinated contrast agent shows long residence time in the blood pool, very high attenuation within submillimeter vessels, and no significant renal clearance rendering it an effective contrast agent for murine vascular imaging using a micro-CT scanner.

Animals↗

Novel human IgG2b/murine chimeric antitenascin monoclonal antibody construct radiolabeled with 131I and administered into the surgically created resection cavity of patients with malignant glioma: phase I trial results.

UNLABELLED: Results from animal experiments have shown that human IgG2/mouse chimeric antitenascin 81C6 (ch81C6) monoclonal antibody exhibited higher tumor accumulation and enhanced stability compared with its murine parent. Our objective was to determine the effect of these differences on the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetics, dosimetry, and antitumor activity of (131)I-ch81C6 administered into the surgically created resection cavity (SCRC) of malignant glioma patients. METHODS: In this phase I trial, eligible patients received a single injection of (131)I-ch81C6 administered through a Rickham catheter into the SCRC. Patients were stratified as newly diagnosed and untreated (stratum A), newly diagnosed after external beam radiotherapy (XRT) (stratum B), and recurrent (stratum C). (131)I-ch81C6 was administered either before (stratum A) or after (stratum B) conventional XRT for newly diagnosed patients. In addition, chemotherapy was prescribed for all patients after (131)I-ch81C6 administration. Dose escalation was performed independently for each stratum. Patients were observed for toxicity and response until death or progressive disease. RESULTS: We treated 47 patients with (131)I-ch81C6 doses up to 4.44 GBq (120 mCi), including 35 with newly diagnosed tumors (strata A and B) and 12 with recurrent disease (stratum C). Dose-limiting hematologic toxicity defined the MTD to be 2.96 GBq (80 mCi) for all patients, regardless of treatment strata. Neurologic dose-limiting toxicity developed in 3 patients; however, none required further surgery to debulk radiation necrosis. Median survival was 88.6 wk and 65.0 wk for newly diagnosed and recurrent patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: The MTD of (131)I-ch81C6 is 2.96 GBq (80 mCi) because of dose-limiting hematologic toxicity. Although encouraging survival was observed, (131)I-ch81C6 was associated with greater hematologic toxicity, probably due to the enhanced stability of the IgG2 construct, than previously observed with (131)I-murine 81C6.

Adult↗

A systematic guide to reviewing a manuscript.

OBJECTIVE: In this article, we provide a step-by-step guide to reviewing a manuscript that we hope will improve the quality of reviews for the AJR. CONCLUSION: We have provided a detailed series of guidelines for providing excellent reviews of manuscripts. The template we have provided can be used to serve as a checklist for important questions to ask about manuscripts during the review process. Finally, the principles presented here also can be used as a guide for authors by providing a list of important features to include during manuscript preparation and thereby prospectively address questions that good reviewers are likely to ask.

Guidelines as Topic↗

Phase II study of imatinib mesylate plus hydroxyurea in adults with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.

PURPOSE: We performed a phase II study to evaluate the combination of imatinib mesylate, an adenosine triphosphate mimetic, tyrosine kinase inhibitor, plus hydroxyurea, a ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor, in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with GBM at any recurrence received imatinib mesylate plus hydroxyurea (500 mg twice a day) orally on a continuous, daily schedule. The imatinib mesylate dose was 500 mg twice a day for patients on enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs) and 400 mg once a day for those not on EIAEDs. Assessments were performed every 28 days. The primary end point was 6-month progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: Thirty-three patients enrolled with progressive disease after prior radiotherapy and at least temozolomide-based chemotherapy. With a median follow-up of 58 weeks, 27% of patients were progression-free at 6 months, and the median PFS was 14.4 weeks. Three patients (9%) achieved radiographic response, and 14 (42%) achieved stable disease. Cox regression analysis identified concurrent EIAED use and no more than one prior progression as independent positive prognostic factors of PFS. The most common toxicities included grade 3 neutropenia (16%), thrombocytopenia (6%), and edema (6%). There were no grade 4 or 5 events. Concurrent EIAED use lowered imatinib mesylate exposure. Imatinib mesylate clearance was decreased at day 28 compared with day 1 in all patients, suggesting an effect of hydroxyurea. CONCLUSION: Imatinib mesylate plus hydroxyurea is well tolerated and associated with durable antitumor activity in some patients with recurrent GBM.

Administration, Oral↗

Phase I trial of temozolomide plus O6-benzylguanine for patients with recurrent or progressive malignant glioma.

PURPOSE: We conducted a two-phase clinical trial in patients with progressive malignant glioma (MG). The first phase of this trial was designed to determine the dose of O6-BG effective in producing complete depletion of tumor AGT activity for 48 hours. The second phase of the trial was designed to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of a single dose of temozolomide when combined with O6-BG. In addition, plasma concentrations of O6-BG and O6-benzyl-8-oxoguanine were evaluated after O6-BG. PATIENTS AND METHODS: For our first phase of the clinical trial, patients were scheduled to undergo craniotomy for AGT determination after receiving a 1-hour O6-BG infusion at 120 mg/m2 followed by a continuous infusion at an initial dose of 30 mg/m2/d for 48 hours. The dose of the continuous infusion of O6-BG escalated until tumor AGT was depleted. Once the O6-BG dose was established a separate group of patients was enrolled in the second phase of clinical trial, in which temozolomide, administered as a single dose at the end of the 1-hour O6-BG infusion, was escalated until the MTD was determined. RESULTS: The O6-BG dose found to be effective in depleting tumor AGT activity at 48 hours was an IV bolus of 120 mg/m2 over 1 hour followed by a continuous infusion of 30 mg/m2/d for 48 hours. On enrolling 38 patients in six dose levels of temozolomide, the MTD was established at 472 mg/m2 with dose-limiting toxicities limited to myelosuppression. CONCLUSION: This study provides the foundation for a phase II trial of O6-BG plus temozolomide in temozolomide-resistant MG.

Adult↗