Combining T1 and T2* contrast in dynamic Oxygen-Enhanced MRI (dOE-MRI) to assess Tumour Hypoxia.

Motivation: There is a need for non-invasive imaging markers for tumor oxygenation to develop hypoxia-targeted treatment. Goal(s): Extend dynamic oxygen-enhanced MRI to incorporate T1 and T2* contrast, enhancing our ability to assess tumor tissue oxygenation more effectively. Approach: Independent Component Analysis maps were used to analyze the signal intensity change in T1 and T2* weighted images for pancreatic PDX tumour models in 26 mice, scanned at 7T. Results: The results showed a significant correlation between ΔT1 and ΔT2* in two PDX tumor models, but not in another model. This discrepancy is attributed to differences in tissue oxygenation inherent to the PDX tumor models studied. Impact: This research demonstrates the potential of dynamic oxygen-enhanced MRI to differentiate tissue oxygenation in pancreatic PDX tumor models. It highlights the complexity of the relationship between T1 and T2* signal changes induced by a cyclic gas breathing challenge.