Arterial Spin Labeled MR Imaging for Assessment of Therapy Response in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Inclusion Criteria

• RCC SUBJECTS: Diagnosis/disease status: Patients with locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
• RCC SUBJECTS: Patients scheduled to undergo anti-angiogenic treatment or IO.
• RCC SUBJECTS: Age >= 18 years.
• RCC SUBJECTS: Performance status: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status 0, 1 and 2.
• RCC SUBJECTS: Women of child-bearing potential must agree to undergo a urine pregnancy screening per standard radiology departmental protocol, in place to prevent imaging of pregnant patients. * A female of child-bearing potential is any woman (regardless of sexual orientation, having undergone a tubal ligation, or remaining celibate by choice) who meets the following criteria: ** Has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or ** Has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 12 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months).
• RCC SUBJECTS: Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent.
• HEALTHY CONTROLS: Age >= 18 years.
• HEALTHY CONTROLS: Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

• Subjects may not be receiving any other anti-angiogenic agents, at the time of enrollment.
• Subjects must not be pregnant since pregnancy is a contraindication to administration of gadolinium-based contrast agents.
• Any contraindication to MRI per radiology department’s routine protocol, e.g. MRI-incompatible objects, including but not limited to medical devices (e.g. pacemakers, automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator [AICD], etc.) and other foreign bodies.
• Known severe allergic reaction to gadolinium-based contrast agents.
• Patients with sickle cell disease and patients with other hemolytic anemias (low red blood count in body).
• Patients with uncontrollable claustrophobia, sever lower back pain, and uncontrollable tremors, to the point that it would render them unable to tolerate an MRI study.