Korean J Radiol.  2013 Dec;14(6):878-885. 10.3348/kjr.2013.14.6.878.

Perfusion Parameters of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Rectal Cancer: Correlation with Microvascular Density and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiology, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul 131-865, Korea.
  • 2Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul 120-752, Korea. jslim1@yuhs.ac
  • 3Department of Pathology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju 220-701, Korea.
  • 4Molecular Imaging & Therapy Branch, National Cancer Center, Goyang 410-769, Korea.
  • 5Department of Medical Information, Jungwon University, Goesan 367-805, Korea.

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether quantitative perfusion parameters of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) correlate with immunohistochemical markers of angiogenesis in rectal cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Preoperative DCE-MRI was performed in 63 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma. Transendothelial volume transfer (Ktrans) and fractional volume of the extravascular-extracellular space (Ve) were measured by Interactive Data Language software in rectal cancer. After surgery, microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression scores were determined using immunohistochemical staining of rectal cancer specimens. Perfusion parameters (Ktrans, Ve) of DCE-MRI in rectal cancer were found to be correlated with MVD and VEGF expression scores by Spearman's rank coefficient analysis. T stage and N stage (negative or positive) were correlated with perfusion parameters and MVD.
RESULTS
Significant correlation was not found between any DCE-MRI perfusion parameters and MVD (rs = -0.056 and p = 0.662 for Ktrans; rs = -0.103 and p = 0.416 for Ve), or between any DCE-MRI perfusion parameters and the VEGF expression score (rs = -0.042, p = 0.741 for Ktrans ; r = 0.086, p = 0.497 for Ve) in rectal cancer. TN stage showed no significant correlation with perfusion parameters or MVD (p > 0.05 for all).
CONCLUSION
DCE-MRI perfusion parameters, Ktrans and Ve, correlated poorly with MVD and VEGF expression scores in rectal cancer, suggesting that these parameters do not simply denote static histological vascular properties.

Keyword

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging; Perfusion; MVD; VEGF; Rectal cancer

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Contrast Media/*diagnostic use
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Staging
Neovascularization, Pathologic/diagnosis/metabolism
Rectal Neoplasms/blood supply/*diagnosis/metabolism
Retrospective Studies
Tumor Markers, Biological/biosynthesis
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/*biosynthesis
Contrast Media
Tumor Markers, Biological
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging image of pathologically T2N0 rectal cancer from 50-year-old woman. Three serial ROIs were drawn from three sections through tumor (A), and mean Ktrans (1.174 min-1) and Ve (0.209) were obtained (B). Histopathologic specimen of rectal adenocarcinoma showed (C) high MVD score (vascular endothelial cells shown in brown identify microvessels) and (D) strong VEGF expression (positive expression of VEGF is shown in brown in cytoplasm; 100 ×). Hot-spot MVD was 99.3 (mean number of microvessel/mm2), and VEGF expression score was 7. ROI = region of interest, MVD = microvessel density, VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor

  • Fig. 2 Scattergram shows relationship between Ktrans and MVD score (A) and between Ktrans and VEGF score (B). Ktrans value is not correlated with MVD and VEGF scores. MVD = microvessel density, VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor


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