NMR-CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN-TUMORS WITH MNTPPS - QUALITATIVE EVALUATION BY IN-VIVO RELAXOMETRY

The applicability of the synthetic manganese porphyrin MnTPPS as tumor-selective MRI-contrast agent for brain tumors was investigated quantitatively by in vivo relaxometry. To exclude toxic effects of side products, the purification method for MnTPPS was improved. As a result, MnTPPS+Cl- (free acid) with a purity of more than 99.8% was obtained. For the in vivo quantification of the contrast effect the magnetization M(0) and the transversal relaxation time T2 were evaluated in different regions of rat brains with or without implanted gliomas and in temporal muscle. Measurements were performed before and after the application of MnTPPS. The ratio of the magnetization M(0) (TR = 3.5 sec) of the tissue under investigation and the contralateral striatum was defined as contrast ratio Rc(0). Without MnTPPS Rc(0) of edema (0.93 +/- 0.08) and tumor (0.91 +/- 0.07) did not differ from normal brain tissue (corpus callosum: 0.96 +/- 0.07; cortex: 0.98 +/- 0.05). T2 of edema (110 +/- 12 msec) and intracranial tumor (93 +/- 7 msec) were significantly longer than in normal tissue (corpus callosum: 73 +/- 8 msec; parietal cortex: 75 +/- 6 msec; striate nucleus: 78 +/- 7 msec, p < .01). Two hours after the injection of MnTPPS, magnetization of neoplastic tissue was selectively enhanced (TR = 3.5 sec), and T2 was reduced. The smallest dose of 0.06 mmol/kg body weight (bw) increased Rc(0) to 1.12 +/- 0.04, and 0.38 mmol/kg to 1.30 +/- 0.13 (p < .01). T2 of tumor decreased to 85 +/- 6 msec after 0.06 mmol/kg and to 65 +/- 6 msec after 0.38 mmol/kg bw. The effect of MnTPPS on T2 and Rc (0) of tumor persisted for at least 4 days; changes in edema or normal brain tissue were not observed.