A correlative study between IVIM-DWI parameters and VEGF and MMPs expression in hepatocellular carcinoma

Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery

article

Cui Yang¹  Xiao-Qin Wei³  Jing Zheng¹  Yun-Yun Tao¹  Xue-Qin Gong¹  Li Li⁴  Zu-Mao Li⁴  Lin Yang¹  Qi Mao¹  Mao-Ting Zhou¹  Xiao-Ming Zhang¹ 

[1] Medical Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Radiology and Medical Research Center , Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College;Department of Radiology, Panzhihua Central Hospital;School of Medical Imaging of North Sichuan Medical College;Department of Pathology , Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College

关键词: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC);    vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF);    matrix metalloproteinase (MMP);    angiogenesis;    intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM);    diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI);   

DOI  :  10.21037/qims-22-271

学科分类：外科医学

来源: AME Publications

【 摘 要 】

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Angiogenic factors may be valuable indices of tumor recurrence and treatment and potentially useful markers for predicting the response to antiangiogenesis therapy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are major drivers of tumor angiogenesis. Preoperatively predicting the expression of VEGF and MMPs is crucial for treating HCC. Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has been successfully used in the differential diagnosis of HCC, pathological grading, and treatment response evaluation. However, the correlations between IVIM-DWI parameters and VEGF and MMP expression have not been reported. This study provides a preliminary analysis of the correlation between IVIM-DWI parameters and the expression of VEGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9 to investigate the value of IVIM-DWI in the noninvasive evaluation of angiogenesis in HCC. Methods: IVIM-DWI was performed in 61 patients with HCC 1 week before they underwent surgical resection. VEGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9 expression was detected using immunohistochemistry staining. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between the IVIM-DWI parameters and VEGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9 expression in HCC. Results: The fast apparent diffusion coefficient fraction (f) value was positively correlated with the expression of VEGF (P<0.001), MMP-2 (P=0.002), and MMP-9 (P<0.001). The fast apparent diffusion coefficient (D*) was positively correlated with VEGF (P<0.001) and MMP-9 (P<0.001) expression but was not correlated with MMP-2 (P=0.659) expression. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and slow apparent diffusion coefficient (D) values were not significantly correlated with the expression of VEGF (P=0.103 and P=0.543, respectively), MMP-2 (P=0.596 and P=0.338, respectively), or MMP-9 (P=0.102 and P=0.660, respectively). Conclusions: IVIM-DWI can be used to noninvasively evaluate angiogenesis in HCC.

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