Non-invasive MRI-based assessment of reactive stromal grade in prostate cancer using diffusion kurtosis imaging and stretched-exponential model

Abstract Objectives Reactive stroma plays a pivotal role in the genesis, progression, and metastasis of prostate cancer (PCa). Higher reactive stromal grade (RSG) generally portends a poorer prognosis. The aim of the study is non-invasively evaluate RSG by preoperative mono-exponential model, stretc...

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Main Authors: Kun-Peng Zhou, Hua-Bin Huang, Shu-Yi Li, Zhong-Xing Luo, Xian-Wen Cheng, Di-Min Liu, Jie Bian, Qing-Yu Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Medical Imaging
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-025-01881-0
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author Kun-Peng Zhou
Hua-Bin Huang
Shu-Yi Li
Zhong-Xing Luo
Xian-Wen Cheng
Di-Min Liu
Jie Bian
Qing-Yu Liu
author_facet Kun-Peng Zhou
Hua-Bin Huang
Shu-Yi Li
Zhong-Xing Luo
Xian-Wen Cheng
Di-Min Liu
Jie Bian
Qing-Yu Liu
author_sort Kun-Peng Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives Reactive stroma plays a pivotal role in the genesis, progression, and metastasis of prostate cancer (PCa). Higher reactive stromal grade (RSG) generally portends a poorer prognosis. The aim of the study is non-invasively evaluate RSG by preoperative mono-exponential model, stretch-exponent model (SEM) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), and isolate the independent predictor of high RSG (> 50% reactive stroma) in parameters of mono-exponential model, SEM and DKI. Methods Totally, 54 low RSG (≤ 50% reactive stroma) patients and 26 high RSG patients were prospectively enrolled in the study. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), mean kurtosis (MK), mean diffusivity (MD), distributed diffusion coefficient (DDC), and heterogeneity index (α) values of all lesions were measured on GE Workstation 4.6. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis was used to analysis the correlation between RSG and parameters of SEM and DKI. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of those parameters in differentiating low RSG and high RSG. DeLong’s test was used to assess whether the differences of AUC for each parameter were statistically significant. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of high RSG. Results ADC (r = − 0.352, p = 0.001), DDC (r = − 0.579, p < 0.001) and MD (r = − 0.597, p < 0.001) values showed significant negative correlations with RSG, while MK value (r = 0.658, p < 0.001) demonstrated a significant positive correlation. MK (AUC = 0.816, p < 0.001) was superior to ADC (AUC = 0.717, p < 0.001), DDC (AUC = 0.781, p < 0.001) and MD (AUC = 0.774, p < 0.001) in differentiating low and high RSG, but the differences between these AUCs were not statistically significant (all p > 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant model (χ² =43.222, p < 0.001), and showed that MK (odds ratio = 10.185; 95% CI: 2.467 ~ 21.694; p < 0.001) and MD (odds ratio = 0.014; 95% CI: 0.003 ~ 0.367; p < 0.001) were the independent predictors of high RSG. Conclusion Although ADC, DDC, and MD values were significantly negatively correlated with RSG, and MK was significantly positively correlated, and all three models—mono-exponential model, SEM, and DKI—demonstrated good performance in differentiating between low and high RSG, only parameters MD and MK values of DKI were identified as independent predictors of high RSG.
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spelling doaj-art-263237fc67ce40d2ba3ef35ce22a76192025-08-24T11:57:41ZengBMCBMC Medical Imaging1471-23422025-08-0125111010.1186/s12880-025-01881-0Non-invasive MRI-based assessment of reactive stromal grade in prostate cancer using diffusion kurtosis imaging and stretched-exponential modelKun-Peng Zhou0Hua-Bin Huang1Shu-Yi Li2Zhong-Xing Luo3Xian-Wen Cheng4Di-Min Liu5Jie Bian6Qing-Yu Liu7Department of Radiology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical UniversityDepartment of Radiology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityAbstract Objectives Reactive stroma plays a pivotal role in the genesis, progression, and metastasis of prostate cancer (PCa). Higher reactive stromal grade (RSG) generally portends a poorer prognosis. The aim of the study is non-invasively evaluate RSG by preoperative mono-exponential model, stretch-exponent model (SEM) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), and isolate the independent predictor of high RSG (> 50% reactive stroma) in parameters of mono-exponential model, SEM and DKI. Methods Totally, 54 low RSG (≤ 50% reactive stroma) patients and 26 high RSG patients were prospectively enrolled in the study. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), mean kurtosis (MK), mean diffusivity (MD), distributed diffusion coefficient (DDC), and heterogeneity index (α) values of all lesions were measured on GE Workstation 4.6. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis was used to analysis the correlation between RSG and parameters of SEM and DKI. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of those parameters in differentiating low RSG and high RSG. DeLong’s test was used to assess whether the differences of AUC for each parameter were statistically significant. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of high RSG. Results ADC (r = − 0.352, p = 0.001), DDC (r = − 0.579, p < 0.001) and MD (r = − 0.597, p < 0.001) values showed significant negative correlations with RSG, while MK value (r = 0.658, p < 0.001) demonstrated a significant positive correlation. MK (AUC = 0.816, p < 0.001) was superior to ADC (AUC = 0.717, p < 0.001), DDC (AUC = 0.781, p < 0.001) and MD (AUC = 0.774, p < 0.001) in differentiating low and high RSG, but the differences between these AUCs were not statistically significant (all p > 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant model (χ² =43.222, p < 0.001), and showed that MK (odds ratio = 10.185; 95% CI: 2.467 ~ 21.694; p < 0.001) and MD (odds ratio = 0.014; 95% CI: 0.003 ~ 0.367; p < 0.001) were the independent predictors of high RSG. Conclusion Although ADC, DDC, and MD values were significantly negatively correlated with RSG, and MK was significantly positively correlated, and all three models—mono-exponential model, SEM, and DKI—demonstrated good performance in differentiating between low and high RSG, only parameters MD and MK values of DKI were identified as independent predictors of high RSG.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-025-01881-0Prostate cancerReactive stromal gradeDiffusion kurtosis imagingStretch-exponent model
spellingShingle Kun-Peng Zhou
Hua-Bin Huang
Shu-Yi Li
Zhong-Xing Luo
Xian-Wen Cheng
Di-Min Liu
Jie Bian
Qing-Yu Liu
Non-invasive MRI-based assessment of reactive stromal grade in prostate cancer using diffusion kurtosis imaging and stretched-exponential model
BMC Medical Imaging
Prostate cancer
Reactive stromal grade
Diffusion kurtosis imaging
Stretch-exponent model
title Non-invasive MRI-based assessment of reactive stromal grade in prostate cancer using diffusion kurtosis imaging and stretched-exponential model
title_full Non-invasive MRI-based assessment of reactive stromal grade in prostate cancer using diffusion kurtosis imaging and stretched-exponential model
title_fullStr Non-invasive MRI-based assessment of reactive stromal grade in prostate cancer using diffusion kurtosis imaging and stretched-exponential model
title_full_unstemmed Non-invasive MRI-based assessment of reactive stromal grade in prostate cancer using diffusion kurtosis imaging and stretched-exponential model
title_short Non-invasive MRI-based assessment of reactive stromal grade in prostate cancer using diffusion kurtosis imaging and stretched-exponential model
title_sort non invasive mri based assessment of reactive stromal grade in prostate cancer using diffusion kurtosis imaging and stretched exponential model
topic Prostate cancer
Reactive stromal grade
Diffusion kurtosis imaging
Stretch-exponent model
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-025-01881-0
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