Multi-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging for the evaluation of angiogenesis and cell cycle protein D1 expression in peripheral lung cancer

Objective: To investigate the relationship between multi-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging and tumor angiogenesis and cell cycle protein D1 (cyclinD1) expression in patients with peripheral lung cancer. Methods: Seventy-three patients with peripheral lung cancer underwent 16-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging. The CT perfusion imaging were analyzed for time density curve (TDC), perfusion parametric maps and the respective perfusion parameters (BF, BV, PS, PH, and PHpm/PHa). Correlation between the respective perfusion parameters and immunohistochemical findings of MVD measurement and cyclinD1 expression were evaluated. Statistical method used one factor analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA) and Pearson correlation analysis. Results: The shape of TDC of three groups of peripheral lung cancers (adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and other type of cancer) was similar. They showed a steeper slope, was obvious increase of nodular HU value [ peak height of TDC is respectively (44.87± 6.83), (34.91±8.05), (40.66±5.87) HU], changed little after reaching peak height, became flat at peak, had a platform. Forty-four patients were cyclinD1 positive expression, the peripheral lung cancers with cyclinD1 positive expression showed significantly higher MVD value than that of the peripheral lung cancers with cyclinD1 negative expressioh [respectively (33.88±14.81), (23.17±11.66) band/high magnification, P<0.01]. The cancers with cyclinD1 positive expression showed significantly higher PH, PHpm/PHa, BF, BV, PS value than those of the cancers with cyclinD1 negative expression [respectively (60.56±6.27)HU, (20.71±2.54), (245.54±69.73)ml·100 mg-1·min-1, (12.17±3.50)ml/ 100mg, (20.11±7.34)ml·100 mg-1·min-1 vs. (56.39±6.87)HU, (19.02 ± 3.27), (194.23 ± 80.89)ml·100 mg-1·min-1, (9.67±3.00)ml/100 mg, (14.10±7.45)ml·100 mg-1·min-1, all P<0.05]. MVD was positively correlated with PH, PHpm/PHa, BF, BV, and PS of the three groups of cancers with cyclinDl positive expression. Among, the correlation coefficient (r value) of BV, PS, BF was 0.409, 0.517, 0.503 respectively (all P<0.01). MVD was significantly correlated with them. The r value of PH, PHpm/PHa is 0.319, 0.324 respectively (all P<0.05). MVD was less correlated with them. MVD was not correlated with PH, PHpm/PHa, BF, BV, and PS of the three groups of cancers with cyclinD1 negative expression. Conclusions: Multi-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging moderately correlated with tumor angiogenesis and reflected MVD measurement and cyclinD1 expression. It provided not only a noninvasive method of quantitative assessment for blood flow patterns of peripheral lung cancer but also an applicable diagnostic method for peripheral lung cancer. (authors)