组织pH的改变是提示许多病理变化的指标。肿瘤细胞内pH(pH i)及细胞外pH(pHe)存在梯度差。与正常组织相比,pHe通常较低,而pH i可以较高或基本无变化。因此,通过检测pH的变化可评估肿瘤病人的预后及治疗反应。近年来,无损性磁共振技术已得到开发并应用于脑肿瘤的pH评估。除了1H、31P之外,其他核如19F及13C亦应用于pH的检测。通过应用超极化13C标记的碳酸氢盐,研究发现老鼠肿瘤模型中肿瘤间质的pH值低于周围组织。基于钆离子(Gd 3+)的pH敏感剂以及化学交换依赖的饱和传递(CEST)和顺磁性对比剂对于进一步剖析脑肿瘤的生化信息具有重要作用。本综述着重阐述当前基于磁共振技术的脑肿瘤pH检测方法以及相关的临床应用前景。
Alteration in tissue pH is an indicator of many pathological processes.In tumors,the pH gradient exists between the intracellular(pHi) and extracellular(pHe) compartments.pHe is usually lower,and pHi could be higher or unchanging compared with normal tissue,which can be correlated with prognosis and response to treatment.In recent years,non-invasive MR-based methods have been developed to assess tissue pH in brain tumors.In addition to protons(1H) and phosphorus(31P),pH measurement approaches have been applied with other NMR nuclei such as fluorine(19F) and carbon(13C).By using hyperpolarized 13C-labelled bicarbonate,the average tumor interstitial pH was found significantly lower than the surrounding tissue in mouse tumor model.Gd(3+)-based pH sensors and chemical exchange-dependent saturation transfer(CEST) and paramagnetic(PARACEST) agents are useful for further delineation of brain tumors.This article primarily focuses on the measurement of pH in brain tumors with MR-based methods and relevant clinical potential.