Tissue Microstructure Is Linked to MRI Parameters and Metabolite Levels in Prostate Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) non-destructively visualizes tumor heterogeneity, architecture, and microenvironment.
• Prostate cancer characterization benefits from correlating in vivo imaging with ex vivo tissue analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the relationship between in vivo MRI parameters, ex vivo measured metabolites, and quantitative histopathology in prostate cancer.
• To link MR characteristics and metabolite levels to microstructural features observed in prostatectomy tissue.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-three fresh frozen prostate tissue samples from 15 patients were spatially matched to in vivo MR images.
• Color-based segmentation of cryosections identified luminal space, stroma, and nuclei for quantitative histopathology.

Main Results:

• Cancerous prostate tissue showed significantly lower lumen area and higher nuclei area compared to non-cancerous tissue.
• Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) correlated with lumen and nuclei percentages.
• Citrate and choline levels correlated with lumen and nuclei percentages, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Histopathological microstructures in prostate cancer are demonstrably linked to MR characteristics.
• Metabolite levels, such as citrate and choline, correlate with specific tissue microstructures observed via histopathology.
• In vivo MRI parameters provide insights into the underlying tissue composition and architecture of prostate cancer.