AUTHOR=Li Zhiheng , Zhao Zhenhua , Wang Chuchu , Wang Dandan , Mao Haijia , Liu Fang , Yang Ye , Tao Feng , Lu Zengxin 

TITLE=Association Between DCE-MRI Perfusion Histogram Parameters and EGFR and VEGF Expressions in Different Lauren Classifications of Advanced Gastric Cancer

JOURNAL=Pathology and Oncology Research

VOLUME=Volume 27 - 2021

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.por-journal.com/journals/pathology-and-oncology-research/articles/10.3389/pore.2021.1610001

DOI=10.3389/pore.2021.1610001

ISSN=1532-2807

ABSTRACT=Objective: To evaluate the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) perfusion histogram parameters in assessing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expressions in advanced gastric cancer (AGC).
Methods: Eighty patients with pathologically confirmed advanced gastric cancer, who underwent DCE-MRI examination before surgery between February 2017 and May 2021, were included in this retrospective study. The DCE-MRI perfusion histogram parameters were calculated for the whole lesion by a post-processing software (Omni Kinetics, GE Healthcare, China) in four quantitative parameter maps. Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect VEGF and EGFR protein expressions in tumor tissues and calculate the immunohistochemical score.
Results: The AGC lesions were divided into two groups: intestinal-type (45 patients) and diffuse-type (35 patients). The proportion of diffuse-type AGC was higher in patients with poor differentiation. VEGF expression was relatively lower in patients with intestinal-type AGC than those with diffuse-type AGC (P<0.05). Several DCE-MRI perfusion histogram parameters correlated with VEGF and EGFR expressions in patients with Lauren classification. Quantile 90 of Ktrans (volume transfer constant) showed the highest correlation coefficient with VEGF in patients with intestinal-type AGC (r = 0.854, P<0.001). The entropy of Kep (reverse reflux rate constant) had the highest coefficient with EGFR in patients with intestinal-type AGC (r = 0.627, P<0.001).
Conclusion: The DCE-MRI perfusion histogram parameters are particularly useful in evaluating EGFR and VEGF expressions, as they can noninvasively assess VEGF and EGFR expressions in different Lauren classifications of AGC and serve as an important reference for treatment planning.