Correlation of MR Perfusion-weighted Imaging of Prostatic Cancer with Tumor Angiogenesis

Objective： MR perfusion-weighted imaging（PWI） has been widely applied in the research of cerebral tumor, benign and malignant musculoskeletal neoplasms and so on. The aim of this study is to explore the application of MR perfusion-weighted imaging in prostatic cancer （Pca）, and evaluate the correlation of PWI features with vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） and microvessel density （MVD）. Methods： Twenty-eight consecutive patients who were diagnosed clinically as prostatic cancer and thirty healthy volunteers were examined by PWI. MVD and VEGF were stained with immunohistochemical methods. Some parameters of PWI, including the steepest slope of signal intensity-time curve （SSmax） and the change in relaxation rate （ΔR2^＊peak） at lesions, were analyzed. Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between the results of PWI and that of immunohistochemistry. Results： （1） In the healthy volunteers, the steepest slope of signal intensity-time curve （SSmax） and ΔR2^＊peak of perfusion curve were： 0.430±0.011, 2.01±0.7 respectively; however, in the prostatic cancer, they were 57.8±5.0, 3.0±0.6 respectively; with significant difference （t=-4.11, 3.28, P〈0.01）. （2）The VEGF and MVD expression of twenty-eight Pca patients were significantly higher. Conclusion： On MR perfusion- weighted imaging, SSmax and ΔR2^＊peak can reflect MVD and VEGF expression levels in prostatic cancer, suggesting information on tumor angiogenesis. Thus they are beneficial to the diagnosis and treatment of prostatic cancer.