Abstract
ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between magnetic resonance transverse relaxation rate (R2*) and prognostic factors.Materials and MethodsA total of 159 women with invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs) underwent breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) sequence at 3 T. The distribution of the measured R2* values were analyzed, and the correlation between R2* and various prognostic factors (age, tumor size, histologic grade, lymphovascular invasion, and axillary lymph node status, as well as expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, p53, and Ki-67) were retrospectively assessed using patient medical records.ResultsThe baseline R2* values of the IDCs were very heterogeneous with wide range among the patients. The mean R2* value was (32.8 ± 14.0) Hz with a median of 29.3 Hz (range 13.5–109.4 Hz). In multivariate analysis, older age was associated with decreased R2* value (P = 0.011) and IDCs with p53-overexpression showed higher R2* values than those without p53-overexpression group (P = 0.031). Other prognostic factors were not significantly correlated with R2* value.ConclusionIn this study, R2* values were significantly correlated with age and expression of p53. Further studies are necessary to determine the prognostic value of BOLD-MRI.
Highlights
It is well established that hypoxia increases the malignant potential of tumors and promotes their viability by altering gene expression patterns via multiple mechanisms [1, 2]
Further studies are necessary to determine the prognostic value of blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
BOLD-MRI exploits the paramagnetic properties of deoxyhemoglobin in erythrocytes to create contrast in MR images; unlike dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI, it does not require administration of exogenous contrast material, and produces images with high temporal and spatial resolution and reproducibility [10]
Summary
It is well established that hypoxia increases the malignant potential of tumors and promotes their viability by altering gene expression patterns via multiple mechanisms [1, 2]. Many studies have suggested PET as a promising non-invasive imaging modality for visualizing tumor oxygenation in vivo, this modality has some limitations, including low spatial resolution, inaccuracy of anatomy, administration of an exogenous radioactive tracer, etc. Functional MRI, including dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI and blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD)-MRI ( called intrinsic susceptibility-weighted MRI) has shown potential as a reliable imaging modality for measuring tumor hypoxia [2, 3, 7,8,9]. Several preclinical studies including a rat model of chemically induced mammary tumors have shown an association between BOLD-MRI signal response and tumor oxygenation [11, 12]
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