SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES

Pilot Study: Ferumoxytol in Magnetic Resonance Studies of Brain Tumors

A CIP-funded pilot study at Oregon Health and Science University is investigating the potential role of ferumoxytol in MRI of malignant brain tumors. Ferumoxytol is an iron oxide nanoparticle that targets phagocytic cells and can be used for pathology that has a significant phagocytic component. The investigators compared ferumoxytol imaging, perfusion, and magnetic resonance angiography with gadolinium imaging. The results from this pilot study of 12 patients with brain tumors indicated that, after administration of ferumoxytol, the tumors were detectable on magnetic resonance studies at various field strengths. In addition, there was less early leakage out of the blood vessels after injection of ferumoxytol in comparison to gadolinium. Further investigations are required to evaluate whether magnetic resonance studies with ferumoxytol would be superior or complementary to studies with gadolinium for assessing tumor perfusion and predicting tumor response to therapy.

Neuwelt EA, Várallyay CG, Manninger S, Solymosi D, Haluska M, Hunt MA, Nesbit G, Stevens A, Jerosch-Herold M, Jacobs PM, Hoffman JM. The potential of ferumoxytol nanoparticle magnetic resonance imaging, perfusion, and angiography in central nervous system malignancy: A pilot study. Neurosurgery2007:60;601–12.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17415196