DCE-MRI is more sensitive than IVIM-DWI for assessing anti-angiogenic treatment-induced changes in colorectal liver metastases
Mihaela Rata, Khurum Khan, David J Collins, Dow-Mu Koh, Nina Tunariu, Maria Antonietta Bali, James d'Arcy, Jessica M Winfield, Simona Picchia, Nicola Valeri, Ian Chau, David Cunningham, Matteo Fassan, Martin O Leach, Matthew R Orton, Mihaela Rata, Khurum Khan, David J Collins, Dow-Mu Koh, Nina Tunariu, Maria Antonietta Bali, James d'Arcy, Jessica M Winfield, Simona Picchia, Nicola Valeri, Ian Chau, David Cunningham, Matteo Fassan, Martin O Leach, Matthew R Orton
Abstract
Background: Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) with intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) modelling can inform on tissue perfusion without exogenous contrast administration. Dynamic-contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI can also characterise tissue perfusion, but requires a bolus injection of a Gadolinium-based contrast agent. This study compares the use of DCE-MRI and IVIM-DWI methods in assessing response to anti-angiogenic treatment in patients with colorectal liver metastases in a cohort with confirmed treatment response.
Methods: This prospective imaging study enrolled 25 participants with colorectal liver metastases to receive Regorafenib treatment. A target metastasis > 2 cm in each patient was imaged before and at 15 days after treatment on a 1.5T MR scanner using slice-matched IVIM-DWI and DCE-MRI protocols. MRI data were motion-corrected and tumour volumes of interest drawn on b=900 s/mm2 diffusion-weighted images were transferred to DCE-MRI data for further analysis. The median value of four IVIM-DWI parameters [diffusion coefficient D (10-3 mm2/s), perfusion fraction f (ml/ml), pseudodiffusion coefficient D* (10-3 mm2/s), and their product fD* (mm2/s)] and three DCE-MRI parameters [volume transfer constant Ktrans (min-1), enhancement fraction EF (%), and their product KEF (min-1)] were recorded at each visit, before and after treatment. Changes in pre- and post-treatment measurements of all MR parameters were assessed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (P<0.05 was considered significant). DCE-MRI and IVIM-DWI parameter correlations were evaluated with Spearman rank tests. Functional MR parameters were also compared against Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours v.1.1 (RECIST) evaluations.
Results: Significant treatment-induced reductions of DCE-MRI parameters across the cohort were observed for EF (91.2 to 50.8%, P<0.001), KEF (0.095 to 0.045 min-1, P<0.001) and Ktrans (0.109 to 0.078 min-1, P=0.002). For IVIM-DWI, only D (a non-perfusion parameter) increased significantly post treatment (0.83 to 0.97 × 10-3 mm2/s, P<0.001), while perfusion-related parameters showed no change. No strong correlations were found between DCE-MRI and IVIM-DWI parameters. A moderate correlation was found, after treatment, between Ktrans and D* (r=0.60; P=0.002) and fD* (r=0.67; P<0.001). When compared to RECIST v.1.1 evaluations, KEF and D correctly identified most clinical responders, whilst non-responders were incorrectly identified.
Conclusion: IVIM-DWI perfusion-related parameters showed limited sensitivity to the anti-angiogenic effects of Regorafenib treatment in colorectal liver metastases and showed low correlation with DCE-MRI parameters, despite profound and significant post-treatment reductions in DCE-MRI measurements.
Trial registration: NCT03010722 clinicaltrials.gov; registration date 6th January 2015.
Keywords: Clinical trial.; Colorectal liver metastasis; Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI); Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI); Perfusion.
Conflict of interest statement
MF received honoraria for consulting, advisory role, speaker bureau, and/or research funding from Astellas Pharma, QED Therapeutics, Diaceutics, Tesaro, Roche, Eli Lilly and Novartis.
NV received honoraria from Merck Serono, Pfizer, Bayer and Eli-Lilly.
DCum received honoraria from Bayer.
The remaining authors of this manuscript declare that they have no competing interests.
© 2021. The Author(s).
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