Relationship between quantitative analysis parameters of DCE-MRI and microangiogenesis in rectal cancer

doi:10.19401/j.cnki.1007-3639.2025.03.008

Abstract

Abstract:

Background and purpose: Tumor microangiogenesis is an important basis for tumor growth and metastasis, and its characteristics include angiogenesis, increased vascular permeability and abnormal capillary structure. Microangiogenesis not only affects the blood supply and metabolism of tumor, but also is directly related to the invasion, prognosis and treatment response of tumor. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is a non-invasive imaging technique. By quantitatively analyzing the distribution and dynamic changes of contrast agents in tumor tissues, it can reflect the microvascular density (MVD), permeability and blood perfusion of tumors. The purpose of this study was to further clarify the application value of DCE-MRI in the diagnosis and treatment of rectal cancer by in-depth analysis of the relationship between quantitative analysis parameters of rectal cancer and microangiogenesis, and to promote the popularization and optimization of this technology in clinical practice. Methods: A total of 348 patients with rectal cancer who were scheduled for surgical treatment in Xinxiang Central Hospital from January 2021 to June 2024 were selected, and rectal cancer tissue specimens and adjacent tissues (> 5 cm away from tumor margin) were collected. This study was approved by the medical ethics committee of Xinxiang Central Hospital (approval number: 2021-144-01K). The quantitative analysis parameters of DCE-MRI [Rate constant (K_ep), volume transport constant (K^trans), volume fraction of contrast agent in extracellular space (VE)] and MVD in cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were compared. The quantitative analysis parameters and MVD of DCE-MRI in rectal cancer patients with different differentiation degrees and clinical stages were compared. Spearman correlation was used to analyze the correlation between DCE-MRI parameters and differentiation degree, clinical stage and MVD in patients with rectal cancer. Results: The values of K_ep value, K^trans value, V_e value and MVD were higher in rectal cancer tissues than in adjacent tissues (P<0.05). The K_ep value, K^trans value, V_e value and MVD of patients with low differentiated and middle differentiated rectal cancer were higher than those of patients with high differentiated rectal cancer (P<0.05). The values of K_ep value, K^trans value, V_e value and MVD of patients with low differentiated rectal cancer were higher than those of patients with middle differentiated rectal cancer (P<0.05). The K_ep value, K^trans value, V_e value and MVD of patients with stage Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ rectal cancer were higher than those of patients with stage Ⅰ rectal cancer (P<0.05). The K_ep value, K^trans value, V_e value and MVD of patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ rectal cancer were higher than those of patients with stage Ⅱ rectal cancer (P <0.05). The K_ep value, K^trans value, V_e value and MVD of patients with stage Ⅳ rectal cancer were higher than those of patients with stage Ⅲ rectal cancer (P<0.05). The K_ep value, K^trans value and V_e value of rectal cancer patients were negatively correlated with the differentiation degree (r=-0.683, -0.743, -0.721, P<0.05). The K_ep value, K^trans value and V_e value of rectal cancer patients were positively correlated with clinical stage (r=0.764, 0.703, 0.814, P<0.05). The K_ep value, K^trans value and V_e value of rectal cancer patients were positively correlated with MVD (r=0.812, 0.754, 0.835, P<0.05). Conclusion: DCE-MRI parameters are related to the differentiation degree, clinical stage and microangiogenesis of rectal cancer.

Key words: Rectal cancer, Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, Quantitative parameters, Degree of differentiation, Clinical staging, Microangiogenesis

CLC Number:

R735.3+7

SONG Dan, CHAI Yaxin, GE Yanping. Relationship between quantitative analysis parameters of DCE-MRI and microangiogenesis in rectal cancer[J]. China Oncology, 2025, 35(3): 320-325.

Figures/Tables 5

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Fig. 1

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Tissue	K_ep value/min	K^trans value/min	V_e value	MVD
Rectal cancer tissue (n=348)	2.61±0.59	0.84±0.17	0.63±0.14	30.69±5.27
Adjacent peritumoral tissues (n=348)	1.57±0.36	0.43±0.12	0.31±0.11	18.72±4.81
t value	28.070	36.756	33.528	31.296
P value	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001

Degree of differentiation	K_ep value/min	K^trans value/min	V_e value	MVD
Highly differentiation (n=68)	2.04±0.41	0.52±0.13	0.38±0.12	23.46±5.73
Moderate differentiation (n=174)	2.53±0.53^a	0.83±0.19^a	0.59±0.19^a	30.18±6.09^a
Poorly differentiation (n=106)	3.11±0.65^ab	1.06±0.24^ab	0.87±0.26^ab	39.25±6.81^ab
t value	82.271	155.608	128.129	141.469
P value	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001

Clinical stage	K_ep value/min	K^trans value/min	V_e value	MVD
Ⅰ (n=79)	1.91±0.43	0.51±0.17	0.37±0.11	22.87±4.65
Ⅱ (n=116)	2.42±0.51^a	0.83±0.21^a	0.56±0.15^a	28.65±5.79^a
Ⅲ (n=88)	2.87±0.62^ab	0.94±0.26^ab	0.75±0.24^ab	32.40±6.51^ab
Ⅳ (n=65)	3.45±0.74^abc	1.12±0.31^abc	0.91±0.28^abc	41.52±7.38^abc
t value	96.258	86.430	103.774	118.998
P value	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001