Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in monitoring bone metastases in breast cancer patients receiving bisphosphonates and endocrine therapy

Abstract

Purpose: To study the role of dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE‐MRI) in monitoring the response of bone metastases to endocrine therapy combined with bisphosphonates in patients with breast cancer. Material and Methods: Ten breast cancer patients with bone metastases who were to receive endocrine therapy and bisphosphonates were investigated prospectively by DCE‐MRI. We chose a reference lesion for each patient who was studied at baseline, within 3 weeks from the second administration of bisphosphonates, and after 4 and 8 months from the initiation of medical treatment. Time/intensity curves, representing temporal changes of signal intensity in areas of interest in the context of the target lesions (ROI), were obtained for each DCE‐MRI. Results: Changes in the shape of the T/I curves suggesting tumor regression were seen shortly after the initiation of medical treatment in the three patients who had the most durable responses. Conclusion: DCE‐MRI has the potential to detect early changes related to medical treatment in bone metastases from breast cancer. If confirmed in larger series, these data identify DCE‐MRI as a diagnostic tool for evaluating new bone targeting antineoplastic agents.