Correlation of blood flow assessed by CT perfusion imaging and microvascular ultrastructure in non-small cell lung cancer: a preliminary study / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation between blood flow assessed by CT perfusion imaging and characteristics of microvascular ultrastructure in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>twenty-eight patients with non-small cell lung cancer proven surgically and pathologically underwent perfusion CT examination. The patients were divided into a hyper-perfusion group and a hypo-perfusion group by the median value of blood flow, and then the differences of microvascular ultrastructure in the two groups were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median BF value of the 28 patients was 36.40 ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1). Take this median value as the boundary, the group with hypo-perfusion showed a significantly lower BF value than the group with hyper-perfusion [(30.84 ± 4.79) ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1) vs. (49.67 ± 10.89) ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1), t = -5.925, P < 0.001]. The group with lymph node metastasis showed a significantly lower BF value than the group without lymph node metastasis [(30.78 ± 5.24) ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1) vs. (50.73 ± 11.16) ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1), t = 3.490, P = 0.015]. The maturity of microvessels of the hyper-perfusion group was higher than that of the hypo-perfusion group. Under the electron microscope, the microvessels in the hypo-perfusion group showed a more narrow lumen, poorer integrity of basement membrane, a more close relationship between cancer cells and microvascular wall, and cancer cells were more easily seen in the microvascular lumen.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The blood flow value of CT perfusion imaging may be related with the abnormal microvascular ultrastructure, and may be helpful to the prediction of metastasis risk in NSCLC.</p>

Relationship between multi-slice spiral CT pulmonary perfusion imaging and the expression of EphB4 and ephrinB2 in non-small cell lung cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of the expression of ephrinB2 and EphB4 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and their relationship with multi-slice spiral CT pulmonary perfusion imaging.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-one nodules with pathologically proven NSCLC underwent CT perfusion scan. The perfusion parameters including blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), peak enhancement image (PEI) were collected. The expression of ephrinB2 and EphB4 in tumor cells and interstitial vasculature were detected by immunohistochemistry. Correlation analysis and trend test were used to assess the relationship between ephrinB2/EphB4 expression and clinicopathological features, and between ephrinB2/EphB4 expression and perfusion parameters.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Positive expression of ephrinB2 and EphB4 in the NSCLC group was 83.9% and 71.0%, respectively, significantly higher than that in the internal control group (P < 0.01). The expression of ephrinB2 and EphB4 was consistently in tumor parenchyma but differently in tumor vessels. The expressions of ephrinB2 and EphB4 were positively correlated with lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.05). The expression of EphB4 was negatively correlated with blood flow (BF) and blood volume (BV), respectively (P < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between ephrinB2 expression and BF (r = 0.516, P = 0.003), and a positive correlation between ephrinB2 expression and BV (r = 0.448, P = 0.013). The expressions of ephrinB2 and EphB4 were not correlated with PEI (P > 0.05). The values of BF and BV in the high and moderate EphB4 expression groups were significantly decreased compared with that in the negative group (P < 0.01). The value of BF in the high ephrinB2 expression group was significantly increased compared with that in the moderately positive group and negative group (P < 0.01). The value of BV in the high ephrinB2 expression group was significantly increased compared with that in the negative group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The CT pulmonary perfusion imaging reflects the density difference of blood vessels with functional lumen, and such difference also depends on the quantity and quality of vasculature with functional lumen.</p>

Mesh structure of two-dimensional tumor microvascular architecture phenotype heterogeneity in non-small cell lung cancer / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the structural characteristics and clinical significance of two-dimensional tumor microvascular architecture phenotype (2D-TMAP) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty surgical specimens of NSCLC were collected. The sections of the tumor tissues corresponding to the slice of CT perfusion imaging were selected to construct the 2D-TMAP expression. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the relation between the 2D-TMAP expression and the clinicopathological features of NSCLC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A heterogeneity was noted in the 2D-TMAP expression of NSCLC. The microvascular density (MVD) in the area surrounding the tumor was higher than that in the central area, but the difference was not statistically significant. The density of the microvessels without intact lumen was significantly greater in the surrounding area than in the central area (P=0.030). The total MVD was not correlated to tumor differentiation (r=0.042, P=0.831). The density of the microvessels without intact lumen in the surrounding area was positively correlated to degree of tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis (r=0.528 and 0.533, P=0.041 and 0.028, respectively), and also to the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), ephrinB2, EphB4, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) (r=0.504, 0.549, 0.549, and 0.370; P=0.005, 0.002, 0.002, and 0.048, respectively). The degree of tumor differentiation was positively correlated to PCNA and VEGF expression (r=0.604 and 0.370, P=0.001 and 0.048, respectively), but inversely to the integrity of microvascular basement membrane (r=-0.531, P=0.033).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The 2D-TMAP suggests the overall state of the micro-environment for tumor growth. The 2D-TMAP of NSCLC regulates angiogenesis and tumor cell proliferation through a mesh-like structure, and better understanding of the characteristics and possible mechanism of 2D-TMAP expression can be of great clinical importance.</p>

Significance and mechanism of MSCT perfusion scan on differentiation of NSCLC / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the significance of MSCT perfusion scan on differentiation of NSCLC and to investigate its possible mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty four NSCLC patients underwent CT perfusion scan by MSCT. Among them, 22 cases were selected to detected the two-dimensional tumor microvascular architecture phenotype (2D-TMAP), the relationships between CT perfusion parameters (BF, BV, PEI, TIP), and the differentiation of NSCLC were analysed by using the correlation analysis and trend test. Spearman correlation analysis was used to study the relationships between CT perfusion parameters, differentiation, and 2D-TMAP.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total BF, BV and PEI decreased with decreasing differentiation of NSCLC (P<0.05). The total PEI showed a positive correlation with the total MVD (P<0.05). There were negative correlations between the surrounding area BF, the total BF, BV, and PEI, the uncomplete lumen of the surrounding area MVD, and expression of PCNA, respectively (P<0.05). There were positive correlations between degree of differentiation and the uncomplete lumen of the surrounding area MVD (P<0.05). It was the same as degree of differentiation and expression of PCNA, VEGF, respectively. There were positive correlations between the uncomplete lumen of the surrounding area MVD and expression of VEGF, ephrinB2, EphB4, and PCNA, respectively (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Perfusion parameters reflect the difference of density of vassels with mature functional lumen. Careful evaluation of the differences of blood flow pattern in pulmonary space-occupying lesions by MSCT perfusion scan can be used to identify the degree of NSCLC differentiation.</p>