title: MR imaging in hepatocellular carcinoma: correlations between MRI features and molecular marker VEGF.
abstract: The aim of this paper was to investigate the correlations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thirty-six patients with HCC included in this study underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging and diffusion-weighted MR imaging. Signal intensity characteristics of HCCs were reviewed independently by two experienced radiologists. ADC maps were automatically computed. VEGF expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. The grades of the VEGF expression were correlated inversely with the ADC values of the HCCs (r = -0.435, p = 0.008). Intensity heterogeneity correlated with VEGF expression (r = 0.571, p = 0.039). There is a significant correlation between the intensity of arterial enhancement and VEGF expression (r = -0.386, p = 0.02). However, no correlation was found between the VEGF grades and the intensity of enhancement in the hepatic portal venous and late phases, as well as equilibrium phase. Our results indicate that ADC value on DW-MRI, the signal intensity in arterial phase and intensity heterogeneity correlate with the degree of VEGF expression in hepatocellular carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jingwu Road 324#, Jinan City, 250021, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhaoqin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiangjiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiu
authors.forename: Xiuqin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Qingwei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A