Clinical Study of Tumor Angiogenesis and Perfusion Imaging Using Multi-slice Spiral Computed Tomography for Breast Cancer

Objectives: To explore the correlation between multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) perfusion parameters andthe expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as well as matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in breast cancer.
Methods: Forty five breast cancer patients and 16 patients with benign breast tumor,both confirmed by pathology examination, were enrolled. All underwent MSCT perfusion imaging to obtainperfusion maps and data for parameters including blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV) and permeability surface(PS). Cancer patients did not receive treatment prior to surgery. The expression of VEGF and MMP-2 wereexamined with both immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.
Results: The levels of VEGF and MMP-2 byimmunohistochemistry were significantly higher in the breast cancer group (P < 0.01) than the benign tumorgroup. Relative OD values from Western blotting were also higher in cancer cases (P < 0.05). Similarly, the meanMSCT perfusion parameters (BF, BV, PS) were significantly higher in the breast cancer group (P < 0.01), BFand BV positively correlating with VEGF expression (r = 0.878 and 0.809 respectively, P < 0.01); PS and VEGFand MMP-2 expression were also positively correlated (r= 0.860, 0.786 respectively, P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Thereis a correlation between breast cancer MSCT perfusion parameters and VEGF andMMP-2 expression, whichmight be useful for detection of breast lesions, qualitative diagnosis of breast cancer, and evaluation of breastcancer treatment.