DCE-MRI quantitative transport mapping for noninvasively detecting hypoxia inducible factor-1α, epidermal growth factor receptor overexpression, and Ki-67 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.
| Publication Type | Academic Article |
| Authors | Huang W, Zhang Q, Wu G, Chen P, Li J, McCabe Gillen K, Spincemaille P, Chiang G, Gupta A, Wang Y, Chen F |
| Journal | Radiother Oncol |
| Volume | 164 |
| Pagination | 146-154 |
| Date Published | 09/27/2021 |
| ISSN | 1879-0887 |
| Keywords | Contrast Media, Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms |
| Abstract | BACKGROUND: Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) has the potential to noninvasively detect expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1-alpha (HIF-1α), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and Ki-67 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by quantitatively measuring tumor blood flow, vascularity, and permeability. PURPOSE: We aim to explore the utility of DCE-MRI in detecting HIF-1α, EGFR, and Ki-67 expression levels using traditional Kety's/Tofts' modeling and quantitative transport mapping (QTM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-nine NPC patients underwent DCE-MRI before treatment were enrolled. DCE-MRI was processed to generate the following kinetic parameters: |u| and D from the QTM model, tumor blood flow (TBF) from Kety's model, and Ktrans, Ve, and Kep from Tofts' model. Pretreatment levels of HIF-1α, EGFR, and Ki-67 were assessed by immunohistochemistry and classified into low and high expression groups. RESULTS: |u| (p < 0.001) and TBF (p = 0.015) values were significantly higher in the HIF-1α high-expression group compared to low-expression group. Only Ktrans (p = 0.016) was significantly higher in the EGFR high-expression group. Only |u| (p < 0.001) values were significantly higher in the Ki-67 high-expression group compared to low-expression group. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that |u| independently correlated with HIF-1α and Ki-67 expression, and Ktrans independently correlated with EGFR. The areas under the ROC curves of |u| for HIF-1α and Ki-67, and Ktrans for EGFR were 0.83, 0.74, and 0.70, respectively. CONCLUSION: |u| and Ktrans derived from DCE-MRI may be considered as noninvasive imaging markers for detecting hypoxia and proliferation in NPC patients. |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.09.016 |
| PubMed ID | 34592360 |