Kimberly R.
Pechman1,2, Deborah L. Donohoe, 2,3, Devyani P.
Bedekar, 2,3, Kathleen M. Schmainda, 2,4
1Neurosurgery, Medical College of
Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States; 2Translational Brain
Tumor Program, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States; 3Radiology,
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States; 4Radiology
and Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
Few
systematic studies have been performed to determine the optimal timing for
combining anti-angiogenic therapy with chemotherapy for the treatment of
brain tumors. Standard MRI measures of enhancing tumor volume are not
appropriate since anti-angiogenic drugs decrease contrast enhancement. The
purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of using rCBV, derived from
DSC imaging, to optimize the combination of bevacizumab and irinotecan for
the treatment of brain tumors. The
studies, performed in the U87 brain tumor model, demonstrate that the optimal
combination, occurs when irinotecan is administered two days before or after
treatment with bevacizumab.