A pair of presentations at the American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, indicates that MR imaging in conjunction with the ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide contrast agent Combidex shows promise in tumor imaging. Combidex is manufactured by Advanced Magnetics of Cambridge, MA, with exclusive U.S. marketing rights held by biopharmaceutical firm Cytogen of Princeton, NJ.
A study presented by Dr. Yoshimi Anzai, associate professor of radiology at the University of Washington in Seattle, reported on the results of MR imaging on 15 patients with primary head and neck cancers 24 hours after the administration of the agent. In seven of the patients, a dark rim was visible at the tumor margin on the post-contrast images. According to histopathologic analysis conducted by the team, iron deposition within macrophages or other inflammatory cells was found predominantly at the periphery of the tumor, and to a lesser extent within the tumor.
A second study on the agent was conducted by Dr. Peter Varallyay, visiting fellow, neuroradiology section, department of radiology at Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland, involving seven patients who had both gadolinium-enhanced and Combidex-enhanced MR imaging to assess malignant brain tumors pre- and postoperatively.
The gadolinium imaging was done a minimum of 24 hours prior to Combidex administration, and MR images were then obtained 24 hours after Combidex administration followed by surgery on the same day. Postoperative MRI was performed approximately 18 hours after surgery.
All malignant tumors showed Combidex accumulation around the periphery of the tumor, which was shown to be in the inflammatory cells on histological analysis. In five of the seven patients there were tumors enhanced by Combidex, but not by gadolinium.
According to Advanced Magnetics, the contrast agent received an approvable letter, subject to certain conditions, from the FDA in June 2000 for its use in the diagnosis of lymph node disease. The company is currently pursuing marketing approval of Combidex for the diagnosis of lymph node disease.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writersApril 30, 2003
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