MR Molecular Imaging of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma during a Therapeutic Vaccine Regimen

Motivation: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive form of cancer with a low survival rate. Immunotherapies have been able to overcome some of the barriers of traditional therapy with PDAC, resulting in increased survival. However, immunotherapy results in responsive and non-responsive tumors. Goal(s): This study aims to use MR molecular imaging with a contrast agent that's specific to the tumor microenvironment to determine responders and monitor therapy. Approach: MR molecular imaging T1w images at discrete timepoints with contrast injection and during therapy. Results: CNR changes were detected using MR molecular imaging on mice bearing PDAC tumors during a vaccine regimen. Impact: There is an absence of biomarkers/predictive tools for pancreatic cancer response to immunotherapy. There’s a critical need for therapeutic strategies that improve patient outcomes in tandem with imaging methods that can monitor disease progression and accurately guide clinical decision making.