Advanced diffusion-weighted imaging-derived quantitative parameters as biomarkers of fibrosarcoma-cell proliferation in nude mice: A study based on precise imaging-pathology correlation

Abstract

Purpose

To determine whether quantitative parameters derived using diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging reflect pathological changes in fibrosarcoma.

Methods

Thirty nude mouse models of fibrosarcoma underwent T1/T2-weighted imaging, DKI, and IVIM imaging on a 3.0-T scanner. Immunohistochemistry was utilized for the hematoxylin and eosin, aquaporin 1 (AQP1), aquaporin 4 (AQP4), and Ki-67 staining of fibrosarcoma tissue, and AQP1 and AQP4 staining of normal muscle tissue (NMT). The independent-sample t-test was used to compare AQP1 and AQP4 expression in fibrosarcoma and NMT. Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate the correlation between imaging parameters and pathological indicators. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to identify the pathological indicators independently associated with quantitative DKI and IVIM parameters.

Results

Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), D, f, and mean kurtosis (MK) indicated cell density and Ki-67 and AQP1 expression intensity. D values reflected AQP4 expression intensity, while MD reflected cell density and AQP1 expression intensity. Cell density (CD) independently influenced ADC and f values, while CD and AQP1 independently influenced D values.

Conclusion

CD and Ki-67 independently influenced MK. DKI- and IVIM imaging-derived ADC, D, f, MD, and MK were correlated with AQP1, AQP4, Ki-67, and CD in nude mice with fibrosarcoma.