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Relationship Between [18F]FDOPA PET Uptake, Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC), and Proliferation Rate in Recurrent Malignant Gliomas

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Abstract

Purpose

Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 6-[18F]fluoro-l-dopa ([18F]FDOPA) positron emission tomography (PET) are used to interrogate malignant tumor microenvironment. It remains unclear whether there is a relationship between [18F]FDOPA uptake, diffusion MRI estimates of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and mitotic activity in the context of recurrent malignant gliomas, where the tumor may be confounded by the effects of therapy. The purpose of the current study is to determine whether there is a correlation between these imaging techniques and mitotic activity in malignant gliomas.

Procedures

We retrospectively examined 29 patients with recurrent malignant gliomas who underwent structural MRI, diffusion MRI, and [18F]FDOPA PET prior to surgical resection. Qualitative associations were noted, and quantitative voxel-wise and median measurement correlations between [18F]FDOPA PET, ADC, and mitotic index were performed.

Results

Areas of high [18F]FDOPA uptake exhibited low ADC and areas of hyperintensity T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) with low [18F]FDOPA uptake exhibited high ADC. There was a significant inverse voxel-wise correlation between [18F]FDOPA and ADC for all patients. Median [18F]FDOPA uptake and median ADC also showed a significant inverse correlation. Median [18F]FDOPA uptake was positively correlated, and median ADC was inversely correlated with mitotic index from resected tumor tissue.

Conclusions

A significant association may exist between [18F]FDOPA uptake, diffusion MRI, and mitotic activity in recurrent malignant gliomas.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflict of interest concerning the subject matter in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 924 Westwood Blvd, Suite 615, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA

    Elena Karavaeva, Robert J. Harris, Kevin Leu, Whitney B. Pope & Benjamin M. Ellingson

  2. Department of Biomedical Physics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Robert J. Harris & Benjamin M. Ellingson

  3. Department of Bioengineering, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Kevin Leu & Benjamin M. Ellingson

  4. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Maryam Shabihkhani & William H. Yong

  5. Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Albert Lai, Phioanh L. Nghiemphu & Timothy F. Cloughesy

  6. Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Linda M. Liau

  7. Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Wei Chen & Johannes Czernin

Authors
  1. Elena Karavaeva
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  2. Robert J. Harris
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  3. Kevin Leu
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  4. Maryam Shabihkhani
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  5. William H. Yong
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  6. Whitney B. Pope
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  7. Albert Lai
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  8. Phioanh L. Nghiemphu
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  9. Linda M. Liau
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  10. Wei Chen
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  11. Johannes Czernin
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  12. Timothy F. Cloughesy
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  13. Benjamin M. Ellingson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Benjamin M. Ellingson.

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Research Support

NIH/NCI R21CA167354 (BME), UCLA Institute for Molecular Medicine Seed Grant (BME), UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Seed Grant (BME), UCLA Radiology Exploratory Research Grant (BME), University of California Cancer Research Coordinating Committee Grant (BME), ACRIN Young Investigator Initiative Grant (BME), National Brain Tumor Society Research Grant (BME), Siemens Healthcare Research Grant (BME), Art of the Brain (TFC), Ziering Family Foundation in memory of Sigi Ziering (TFC), Singleton Family Foundation (TFC), and Clarence Klein Fund for Neuro-Oncology (TFC).

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Karavaeva, E., Harris, R.J., Leu, K. et al. Relationship Between [18F]FDOPA PET Uptake, Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC), and Proliferation Rate in Recurrent Malignant Gliomas. Mol Imaging Biol 17, 434–442 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-014-0807-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-014-0807-3

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