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

Our purpose was to elucidate possible correlations between histogram parameters derived from dynamic contrastenhanced 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 DCEMRI parameters: Ktrans, Kep, and Ve. 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. Kep kurtosis was signicantly higher in p16 tumors, and Ve min was signicantly lower in p16 tumors compared to the p16 negative tumors. In the overall sample, Kep entropy correlated well with EGFR expression (p = 0.38, P = 0.04). In p16 positive carcinomas, Ktrans max correlated with VEGF expression (p = 0.46, P = 0.04), Ktrans kurtosis correlated with Hif1-alpha expression (p = 0.46, P = 0.04), and Ktrans entropy correlated with EGFR expression (p = 0.50, P = 0.03). Regarding Kep 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, Kep mode correlated with Her2 expression (p = −0.72, P = 0.03), Ve max correlated with p53 expression (p = −0.80, P = 0.009), and Ve p10 correlated with EGFR expression (p = 0.68, P = 0.04). Conclusion. DCE-MRI can reffect several histopathological features in HNSCC. Associations between DCE-MRI and histopathology in HNSCC depend on p16 status. Kep kurtosis and Ve min can differentiate p16 positive and p16 negative carcinomas.