Clinical cell therapy imaging using a perfluorocarbon tracer and fluorine‐19 MRI. Issue 6 (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ahrens, Eric T.; Helfer, Brooke M.; O'Hanlon, Charles F.; Schirda, Claudiu
• Is Part Of: Magnetic resonance in medicine. Volume 72:Issue 6(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: spcone
• Page End: spcone
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: Nuclear magnetic resonance -- Periodicals; Electron paramagnetic resonance -- Periodicals; 616.07548
• DOI: 10.1002/mrm.25541
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0740-3194

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="mrm25541-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Purpose</title> <p>Cellular therapeutics are emerging as a treatment option for a host of serious human diseases. To accelerate clinical translation, noninvasive imaging of cell grafts in clinical trials can potentially be used to assess the initial delivery and behavior of cells.</p> </sec> <sec id="mrm25541-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>The use of a perfluorocarbon (PFC) tracer agent for clinical fluorine‐19 (<sup>19</sup>F) MRI cell detection is described. This technology was used to detect immunotherapeutic dendritic cells (DCs) delivered to colorectal adenocarcinoma patients. Autologous DC vaccines were labeled with a PFC MRI agent ex vivo. Patients received DCs intradermally, and <sup>19</sup>F spin‐density‐weighted MRI at 3 Tesla (T) was used to observe cells.</p> </sec> <sec id="mrm25541-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Spin‐density‐weighted <sup>19</sup>F images at the injection site displayed DCs as background‐free "hot‐spot" images. <sup>19</sup>F images were acquired in clinically relevant scan times (<10 min). Apparent DC numbers could be quantified in two patients from the <sup>19</sup>F hot‐spots and were observed to decrease by ∼50% at injection site by 24 h. From 3T phantom studies, the sensitivity limit for DC detection is estimated to be on the order of ∼10<sup>5</sup> cells/voxel in this study.</p> </sec> <sec id="mrm25541-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>These results help to establish a clinically applicable means to track a broad range of cell types used in cell therapy. Magn Reson Med 72:1696–1701, 2014. © 2014 The Authors. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society of Medicine in Resonance.</p> </sec> </abstract>