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Novel functional magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers for assessing response to therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma

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Abstract

The established and adapted image biomarkers based on size for tumor burden measurement continue to be applied to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as size measurement can easily be used in clinical practice. However, in the setting of novel targeted therapies and liver directed treatments, simple tumor anatomical changes can be less informative and usually appear later than biological changes. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has a potential to be a promising technique for assessment of HCC response to therapy. In this review, we discuss various functional MRI biomarkers that play an increasingly important role in evaluation of HCC response after treatment.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Science Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (0952nm03400, 11nm0504000 and 124119a0100) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (81301218 and 81301262).

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The authors state that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Shanghai PLA No. 85 Hospital, 1328 Hua Shan Road, Shanghai, 200052, People’s Republic of China

    Z. Yuan & H.-Y. Zhu

  2. Department of Radiology, Shanghai Cancer Hospital, Fudan University, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, People’s Republic of China

    Z. Yuan, W.-T. Li & W.-J. Peng

  3. Department of Radiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, 241 West Huai Hai Road, Shanghai, 200030, People’s Republic of China

    X.-D. Ye

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  1. Z. Yuan
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  2. W.-T. Li
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  3. X.-D. Ye
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  4. H.-Y. Zhu
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  5. W.-J. Peng
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Correspondence to Z. Yuan, X.-D. Ye or W.-J. Peng.

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Z. Yuan and W.-T. Li contributed equally.

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Yuan, Z., Li, WT., Ye, XD. et al. Novel functional magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers for assessing response to therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Transl Oncol 16, 599–605 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-013-1147-5

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