Association analysis between quantitative MRI features and hypoxia-related genetic profiles in prostate cancer: a...

To investigate the association between multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) imaging features and hypoxia-related genetic profiles in prostate cancer.

In vivo mpMRI was acquired from six patients prior to radical prostatectomy. Sequences included T₂ weighted (T₂W) imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, dynamic contrast enhanced MRI and blood oxygen-level dependent imaging. Imaging data were co-registered with histology using three-dimensional deformable registration methods. Texture features were extracted from T₂W images and parametric maps from functional MRI. Full transcriptome genetic profiles were obtained using next generation sequencing from the prostate specimens. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between mpMRI data and hypoxia-related gene expression levels. Results were validated using glucose transporter one immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Correlation analysis identified 34 candidate imaging features (six from the mpMRI data and 28 from T₂W texture features). The IHC validation showed that 16 out of the 28 T₂W texture features achieved weak but significant correlations (p < 0.05).

Weak associations between mpMRI features and hypoxia gene expressions were found. This indicates the potential use of MRI in assessing hypoxia status in prostate cancer. Further validation is required due to the low correlation levels.

This is a pilot study using radiogenomics approaches to address hypoxia within the prostate, which provides an opportunity for hypoxia-guided selective treatment techniques.