Multinuclear MR investigation of the metabolic response of the murine RIF-1 tumor to 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy.

The metabolic response of the RIF-1 tumor to 5-fluorouracil (a single dose of 260 mg 5FU/kg, ip) was monitored in 10 mice using 19F and 31P MR spectroscopy. 19F MRS revealed a continuous drop in tumor 5FU level and an increase in the fluoronucleotide (Fnuc) signal to a plateau value of 50% of the initial 5FU level, during the first 2 h after chemotherapy. Although the 31P MR spectra of the tumors showed no significant initial changes, the total level of MR visible tumor phosphate decreased and tumor pH increased during the subsequent days. The changes in phosphate metabolism and tumor pH did not correlate with the detected fluorine levels or tumor response. However, the pretreatment Pi level, the plateau Fnuc level, and the 5FU induced decrease in tumor volume showed significant correlation. This indicates that both 19F and 31P MR spectroscopy have potential for predicting response to 5FU chemotherapy.