Power Doppler vascularity index for predicting the response of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cervical carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate whether the power Doppler vascularity index (PDVI) can predict the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in cervical carcinoma.


METHODS
Twenty-five women with bulky early stage cervical carcinoma treated by NACT followed by surgery were enrolled. Their response to NACT was evaluated. Clinical characteristics and pathologic data were recorded. Transvaginal power Doppler was performed before, during and after NACT. PDVI was detected using power Doppler and a quantitative image processing system. Factors that can potentially correlate with the response to NACT were analyzed.


RESULTS
Twelve (48%) patients showed a response (responders) to NACT and 13 (52%) were unchanged or had progressive disease (nonresponders) after NACT. Higher PDVI values were noted in tumors with lymphovascular emboli and pelvic lymph node metastasis both before and after NACT. The mean values of the PDVI of the nonresponders before (19.27 +/- 6.01 vs. 12.28 +/- 7.06, p = 0.014), during (20.2 +/- 1.5 vs. 12.9 +/- 2.1, p = 0.009) and after NACT (18.1 +/- 6.0 vs. 9.3 +/- 5.4, p = 0.001) were significantly higher than those of the responders. When the cutoff point for predicting nonresponders to NACT was set at a PDVI value of 15%, the sensitivity was 92.3% and the specificity 66.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
The power Doppler vascularity index can predict the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cervical cancer, and might be useful for the evaluation of response to chemotherapy in cancer patients in the future.
Chen
Chi-An
CA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Cheng
Wen-Fang
WF
Lee
Chien-Nan
CN
Su
Yi-Ning
YN
Hsieh
Chang-Yao
CY
Hsieh
Fon-Jou
FJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents