Abstract
BackgroundNoninvasive evaluation of the expression of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and transketolase (TKT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is of great significance for the clinical development of individualized treatment plans. However, the correlation between intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) and the expression of Ang-2 and TKT has not been reported. We sought to investigate the correlations between IVIM-DWI parameters and Ang-2 and TKT expression levels in HCCs.MethodsConventional non-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and IVIM-DWI and dynamic contrast MRI were performed for 61 patients with HCC before surgical treatment. Various IVIM-DWI parameters, such as apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), slow apparent diffusion coefficient (D), fast apparent diffusion coefficient (D*) and fraction of fast apparent diffusion coefficient (f), were calculated using Function-MADC software. Expression levels of Ang-2 and TKT in HCC were detected via immunohistochemical staining and classified into two grades. Independent sample t tests were used to compare differences in parameters between the two groups. The Spearman rank correlation test was used to analyze the correlations between IVIM-DWI parameters and Ang-2 and TKT expression levels in HCCs.ResultsThe D* and f values were significantly higher in the high Ang-2 group than in the low Ang-2 group; there were no obvious between-group differences in ADC and D. Ang-2 expression was positively correlated with D* and f but not with ADC and D. The ADC and D values were significantly lower in the high TKT group than in the low TKT group, whereas the between-group differences for D* and f were not significant. TKT expression was negatively correlated with ADC and D but not with D* and f.ConclusionsIVIM-DWI can be used to evaluate Ang-2 and TKT expression in HCC.
Highlights
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive system, and it has severe disease burden [1]
Conventional non-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM)-diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast MRI were performed for 61 patients with HCC before surgical treatment
The D* and f values were significantly higher in the high Ang-2 group than in the low Ang-2 group; there were no obvious between-group differences in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and D
Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive system, and it has severe disease burden [1]. Continuous development of magnetic resonance technology has promoted the use of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in tumor diagnosis and treatment. Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM)-DWI proposed by Le BihanD et al [2, 3] uses a biexponential model to obtain multiple parameters, including D, D*, and f, which distinguish the diffusion of water molecules from the perfusion of capillaries. Noninvasive evaluation of the expression of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and transketolase (TKT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is of great significance for the clinical development of individualized treatment plans. The correlation between intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) and the expression of Ang-2 and TKT has not been reported. We sought to investigate the correlations between IVIM-DWI parameters and Ang-2 and TKT expression levels in HCCs
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