Caleb Roberts1,2, Chris Rose1,2,
Josephine H. Naish1,2, Yvonne Watson1,2, Sue Cheung1,2,
Gio A. Buonaccorsi1,2, Gordon C. Jayson3, John C.
Waterton, 2,4, Jean Tessier4, Geoff J. Parker1,2
1Imaging Science and Biomedical
Engineering, School of Cancer and Imaging Sciences, The University of
Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; 2The University of
Manchester Biomedical Imaging Institute, The University of Manchester,
Manchester, United Kingdom; 3Cancer Research UK Dept Medical
Oncology, Christie Hospital and University of Manchester, Manchester, United
Kingdom; 4AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire,
United Kingdom
Tracer
kinetic model-based analyses of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI data
typically report summary statistics that treat tumors as being homogeneous.
However, since anti-angiogenic therapies often preferentially affect certain
parts of heterogeneous tumors there is interest in the development of methods
to provide insight into regional changes.
We present a method that uses k-means clustering of T1 and the apparent water
diffusion coefficient (ADC) measured in a group of ovarian tumors to
sub-divide tumors into distinct regions and demonstrate that differences in
tracer kinetic parameters exist between these regions and the overall tumor
median statistic.