Correlation of ADC and T2 measurements with Ki-67 labeling index in peripheral zone prostate cancer at 3.0 T
Liang Li1, Yunfei Zha1, Wei Gong1, Dongjie Huang1, and Dong Xing1

1Department of Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, People's Republic of

Synopsis

Assessment of tumor proliferation has been suggested as an important additional predictor of tumor behavior. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible correlation between T2 imaging, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), and Ki-67 labeling index in patients with newly diagnosed prostate tumor.

Objectives

Prostate cancer (PCa) incidence rates have risen dramatically over the last few years with a particularly marked increase evident in the under 65 age group1. A noninvasive method to predict aggressiveness of PCa would be desirable because it would help anticipate tumor recurrence and improve tumor management and the treatment outcomes. The Ki-67 protein is a marker of tumor proliferation, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and T2 relaxation time are related to tumor cellularity2. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between MRI derived parameters (ADC and T2 value) and Ki-67 labeling index (LI) as determined from whole mounted radical prostatectomy specimens in peripheral zone prostate cancer.

Materials and Methods

The local Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved this retrospective study and waived the requirement of informed consent. Between April 2013 and October 2015, fifty-two patients (mean age: 61.4 years, range: 42-76 years) who underwent preoperative MRI and radical prostatectomy were included in our study. Diffusion and T2 imaging were performed on a 3.0 T MR scanner to enable subsequent ADC and T2 calculation. A radiologist and pathologist located the dominant tumor on the MR images based on histopathologic correlation. Ki-67 LI was then determined using an immunohistochemical staining technique. The relationship between MR and histopathologic parameter was assessed using scatter-plots and the Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results

The mean tumor diameter was 15.2 mm (range, 5-28 mm). Of the 52 peripheral zone prostate tumors, four (7.7%) had a Gleason score of 6, 33 (63%) had a Gleason score of 7, and 15 (28.8%) had a Gleason score of greater than 7. ADC, T2 and Ki-67 LI in peripheral zone prostate cancer were (1.43±0.19)×10-3mm2/s, (99±20) milliseconds, and 33.8%±5.3%, respectively. A significant negative correlation with Ki-67 LI was noted for both ADC (r= -0.696, P<0.0001) and T2 (r= -0.512, P<0.001). Trends for increased Ki-67 LI, decreased ADC, and decreased T2 with increasing Gleason score were also noted.

Discussion & conclusion

A correlation between proliferation activity, PCa T2 relaxation time, and ADC values has been investigated. Increases in cellular density and disruption of ductal architecture in PCa can result in decreased ADC values. The Ki-67 protein functions as a nuclear antigen that is only expressed in proliferating cells. Noninvasive determination of parameters reflecting cell density may be important as some clinical studies have noted increased metastatic activity in highly cellular tumors suggesting that cellularity may be indicative of tumor aggressiveness. ADC and to a lesser extent T2 are good indicators of Ki-67 labeling index. Because of the potential link with Gleason score, multiparametric MRI may have a prognostic role with regard to potential metastatic activity and tumor aggressiveness. These results warrant further investigation on the potential of multiparametric MRI to facilitate noninvasive assessment of prostate cancer aggressiveness and proliferative activity.

Acknowledgements

No acknowledgement found.

References

1. Hayes JH, Barry MJ.JAMA. 2014; 311:1143-9. 2. Zhang J, Jing H, Han X, et al. Acad Radiol. 2013;20:1535-41.

Figures

T2 weighted image (A), DW image (B), corresponding ADC map (C) and immunohistochemistry (D) show that the left peripheral zone has a relatively short T2 (108 ms), a relatively high ADC (1.28×10-3mm2/s) and low expression level of Ki-67 in tumor(×400).



Proc. Intl. Soc. Mag. Reson. Med. 24 (2016)
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