Associations between histogram analysis parameters derived from dynamic-contrast enhanced MRI and PD L1-expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. A preliminary study

Abstract

PurposeProgrammed death 1 ligand (PD-L 1) plays an essential role in oncology. It might be crucial to predict its expression non-invasively by imaging. Dynamic-contrast enhanced MRI (DCE MRI) is one of the important imaging modalities in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). The aim of the present study was to analyze possible associations between histogram analysis parameters of DCE MRI and PD-L 1 expression in HNSCC MethodsOverall, 26 patients with primary HNSCC of different localizations were involved in the study. DCE MRI was obtained on a 3 T MRI and analyzed with a whole lesion measurement using a histogram approach. PD-L 1 expression was estimated on bioptic samples before any form of treatment using 3 scores (Tumor positive score (TPS), Immune cell score (ICS) and Combined positive score (CPS)). ResultsCPS correlated with mode derived from Ktrans (r = 0.40, p = .04). Also CPS correlated with P90 derived from Kep (r = 0.40, p = .04). ICS correlated with the maximum derived from Kep (r = 0.41, p = .03) and entropy derived from Kep (r = 0.43, p = .02). There were no associations between DCE MRI parameters and TPS. ConclusionKtrans and Kep related histogram analysis parameters derived from DCE MRI correlated moderately with PD-L 1 expression of immune cells in HNSCC.