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

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.