Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Tumor Response and Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Anthracycline-based Systemic Chemotherapy

In this work we will utilize conventional magnetic resonance imaging as well as a set of advanced magnetic resonance imaging tools to investigate changes in tumor physiology and the human brain resulting from anthracycline-based systemic chemotherapy. We will recruit up to 15 subjects diagnosed with breast cancer and preparing for an anthracycline-based systemic chemotherapy regimen. Each subject will undergo the set of MR imaging tools before therapy, after one therapy session, after four therapy sessions, and at the conclusion of therapy. Conventional MRI methods will be used to quantify tumor-response to chemotherapy for each subject. A control group of up to 15 normal subjects will also be recruited and will undergo MR brain imaging twice with a gap of 6 months between scans. All subjects will also undergo a battery of neuropsychological tests at each imaging session. The results of the neuropsychological tests will be used to quantify cognitive changes for each subject. A final analysis will determine if the advanced MR modalities can be used to predict the response of tumors or human cognition to chemotherapy.