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MR imaging in hepatocellular carcinoma: correlations between MRI features and molecular marker VEGF

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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.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Shandong Province Science and Technology Development Plan, China (2012GSF11820, 2012YD18086 and 2012YD18053).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiology Department, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jingwu Road 324#, Jinan City, 250021, Shandong Province, China

    Zhaoqin Huang, Jianjun Xiu, Lei Bi, Jie Zhang, Xue Han & Qingwei Liu

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jiyan Road 440#, Jinan City, Shandong Province, China

    Xiangjiao Meng

  3. Department of Oncology, The People’s Hospital of Haiyang County, Haiyang, China

    Xiuqin Xu

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  1. Zhaoqin Huang
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  2. Xiangjiao Meng
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  3. Jianjun Xiu
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  5. Lei Bi
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  8. Qingwei Liu
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Correspondence to Qingwei Liu.

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Huang, Z., Meng, X., Xiu, J. et al. MR imaging in hepatocellular carcinoma: correlations between MRI features and molecular marker VEGF. Med Oncol 31, 313 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-014-0313-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-014-0313-0

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