AUTHOR=Wang Junlong , Zhang Hua , Dang Xuefei , Rui Wenting , Cheng Haixia , Wang Jing , Zhang Yong , Qiu Tianming , Yao Zhenwei , Liu Hanqiu , Pang Haopeng , Ren Yan 

TITLE=Multi-b-value diffusion stretched-exponential model parameters correlate with MIB-1 and CD34 expression in Glioma patients, an intraoperative MR-navigated, biopsy-based histopathologic study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2023.1104610

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2023.1104610

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>To understand the pathological correlations of multi-<italic>b</italic>-value diffusion-weighted imaging (MDWI) stretched-exponential model (SEM) parameters of α and diffusion distribution index (DDC) in patients with glioma. SEM parameters, as promising biomarkers, played an important role in histologically grading gliomas.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Biopsy specimens were grouped as high-grade glioma (HGG) or low-grade glioma (LGG). MDWI-SEM parametric mapping of DDC<sub>1500</sub>, α<sub>1500</sub> fitted by 15 <italic>b</italic>-values (0-1,500 sec/mm<sup>2</sup>)and DDC<sub>5000</sub> and α<sub>5000</sub> fitted by 22 <italic>b</italic>-values (0-5,000 sec/mm<sup>2</sup>) were matched with pathological samples (stained by MIB-1 and CD34) by coregistered localized biopsies, and all SEM parameters were correlated with these pathological indices pMIB-1(percentage of MIB-1 expression positive rate) and CD34-MVD (CD34 expression positive microvascular density for each specimen). The two-tailed Spearman’s correlation was calculated for pathological indexes and SEM parameters, as well as WHO grades and SEM parameters.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>MDWI-derived α<sub>1500</sub> negatively correlated with CD34-MVD in both LGG (6 specimens) and HGG (26 specimens) (r=-0.437, <italic>P</italic> =0.012). MDWI-derived DDC<sub>1500</sub> and DDC<sub>5000</sub> negatively correlated with MIB-1 expression in all glioma patients (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). WHO grades negatively correlated with α<sub>1500</sub>(r=-0.485; <italic>P=</italic>0.005) and α<sub>5000</sub>(r=-0.395; <italic>P=</italic>0.025).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>SEM-derived DDC and α are significant in histologically grading gliomas, DDC may indicate the proliferative ability, and CD34 stained microvascular perfusion may be an important determinant of water diffusion inhomogeneity α in glioma.</p></sec>