Associations between Histogram Analysis Parameters Derived from DCE-MRI and Histopathological Features including Expression of EGFR, p16, VEGF, Hif1-alpha, and p53 in HNSCC

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to elucidate possible correlations between histogram parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) with several histopathological features in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). METHODS: Thirty patients with primary HNSCC were prospectively acquired. Histogram analysis was derived from the DCE-MRI parameters: K(trans), K(ep), and V(e). Additionally, in all cases, expression of human papilloma virus (p16) hypoxia-inducible factor-1-alpha (Hif1-alpha), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and tumor suppressor protein p53 were estimated. RESULTS: K (ep) kurtosis was significantly higher in p16 tumors, and V(e) min was significantly lower in p16 tumors compared to the p16 negative tumors. In the overall sample, K(ep) entropy correlated well with EGFR expression (p=0.38, P=0.04). In p16 positive carcinomas, K(trans) max correlated with VEGF expression (p=0.46, P=0.04), K(trans) kurtosis correlated with Hif1-alpha expression (p=0.46, P=0.04), and K(trans) entropy correlated with EGFR expression (p=0.50, P=0.03). Regarding K(ep) parameters, mode correlated with VEGF expression (p=0.51, P=0.02), and entropy correlated with Hif1-alpha expression (p=0.47, P=0.04). In p16 negative carcinomas, K(ep) mode correlated with Her2 expression (p=−0.72, P=0.03), V(e) max correlated with p53 expression (p=−0.80, P=0.009), and V(e) p10 correlated with EGFR expression (p=0.68, P=0.04). CONCLUSION: DCE-MRI can reflect several histopathological features in HNSCC. Associations between DCE-MRI and histopathology in HNSCC depend on p16 status. K(ep) kurtosis and V(e) min can differentiate p16 positive and p16 negative carcinomas.