Diffusion-weighted imaging of prostate cancer: correlation between apparent diffusion coefficient values and tumor proliferation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of prostate cancer (PCa) are able to reflect tumor proliferation.


METHODS
The clinical and pathological information for 38 patients with PCa and 33 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) were studied. Examination of the patients was performed using a 1.5 T superconducting magnetic scanner equipped with a pelvic phased-array multicoil. Diffusion-weighted images (DWIs) were acquired using an echo-planar imaging sequence. The ADC values of PCa, BPH, and peripheral zone (PZ) were calculated. The cellularity of PCa was recorded based on hematoxylin and eosin staining. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was detected using an immunohistochemical technique.


RESULTS
The ADC values of PCa, BPH, and PZ were 49.32 +/- 12.68 x 10(-5) mm(2)/s, 86.73 +/- 26.75 x 10(-5) mm(2)/s, and 126.25 +/- 27.21 x 10(-5) mm(2)/s, respectively. The ADC values of PCa were lower than those of BPH and PZ (P < 0.05). The cellularity and PCNA labeling index (LI) of PCa were higher than those of BPH (P < 0.05). The ADC values of PCa were negatively correlated with those of cellularity and PCNA LI (r = -0.646 and -0.446, respectively; P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The ADC values of PCa can reveal the differences in proliferative activity between PCa and BPH. These values are therefore able to predict the proliferative rate of variously differentiated prostate cancers.
Wang
Xi Zhen
XZ
Department of Radiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, People's Republic of China.
Wang
Bin
B
Gao
Zhi Qin
ZQ
Liu
Jin Gang
JG
Liu
Zuo Qin
ZQ
Niu
Qing Liang
QL
Sun
Zhen Kui
ZK
Yuan
Yu Xiao
YX
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen