Schmainda, Kathleen, Ph.D. Associate Professor Biotechnology and Bioengineering Center, Department of Biophysics CV Tel:  (414)-456-4051 Fax: (414)-456-6512 Email: kathleen@mcw.edu

A primary focus of our laboratory is the development of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) methods to assess brain tumor angiogenesis and invasion. Angiogenesis is the process of new vessel formation that enables tumors to grow and spread. Invasion describes the process whereby tumor cells enter and spread to other parts of the brain, making brain tumors very difficult to treat.

The methods developed in our laboratory can provide information about the normal brain and tumor’s vascular structure, the amount of blood volume in the brain and tumor (cerebral blood volume (CBV)) and the perfusion or delivery of blood to the tumor (cerebral blood flow (CBF)). In addition by using MRI methods capable of measuring the micromolecular movement of tissue water (ie diffusion) we have demonstrated the potential to track tumor progression and possibly invasion.

These vascular and diffusion parameters provide information about the tumor biology, which is not currently available with standard MRI used in clinical practice. Measurement of these parameters holds promise for providing a more complete assessment of the primary tumor, tumor spread and for evaluating novel (eg anti-angiogenic) therapies. Studies performed in our laboratory address issues ranging from characterizing the basic biophysical relationships between the MRI signal and tumor biology to translating these methods into the clinic.

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