Hyperpolarized 13C MR Imaging & Corresponding Histopathology for the Non-Invasive Characterization of Metabolism in the TRAMP Model

Kayvan R. Keshari¹, Robert Bok, Subramaniam Sukumar, Mark Van Criekinge, Daniel Vigneron, John Kurhanewicz

In this study a 14T multi-parametric (T2-MRI, DWI, HP-13C MR) imaging protocol was used to compare MR findings with histopathology and immunohistochemistry of normal and TRAMP mice at various stages of cancer progression. It was determined that, similar to the human situation, ADC was reduced in TRAMP tumors relative to normal prostate. Both increased proliferation and hypoxia were related to increased uptake of pyruvate and lactate to pyruvate ratio. Late stage TRAMP tumors had overall increased perfusion relative to the normal prostate. However, perfusion was heterogeneous and there were regions of low perfusion in the tumor with high metabolic activity.