Christian T. Farrar1, Walid Kamoun2, Carsten D. Ley2, Young R. Kim1, Guangping Dai1, Bruce R. Rosen1, Rakesh K. Jain2, A. Gregory Sorensen1
1Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA; 2Edwin L. Steele Laboratory, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
Recent clinical trials of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents for glioblastoma showed promising progression-free and overall survival rates. However, it is unclear whether this is due to anti-tumor or anti-edema effects of these agents. Thus the mechanisms leading to improved survival in patients remain unclear. Our goal was to determine whether alleviation of edema by anti-VEGF agents alone, without affecting tumor growth, could increase survival in mice. Here we examine in detail the impact of cediranib treatment on tumor growth, tumor blood volume, vessel caliber, edema, and permeability in a U87 mouse brain tumor model. In addition, we validate the MRI biomarkers of tumor angiogenesis with histology, optical microscopy, and wet-dry weight measurement methods.