Pretreatment dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI biomarkers correlate with progression-free survival in primary central nervous system lymphoma

Purpose Prediction of clinical outcomes in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is important for optimization of treatment planning. Quantitative imaging biomarkers for PCNSL have not yet been established. This study evaluated the prognostic value of pretreatment dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging for progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with PCNSL. Methods Pretreatment dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging were retrospectively analyzed in 18 immunocompetent patients with PCNSL. Volumes of interest encompassing the tumors were assessed for measurements of blood plasma volume (Vp), volume transfer constant (K trans ), and apparent diffusion coefficient. Patients were divided into short and long PFS groups based on median PFS. Imaging and clinical variables were correlated with PFS. Results Median PFS was 19.6 months. Lower Vp mean and K trans mean values increased risk for rapid progression (< 19.6 months). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated an optimal Vp mean cutoff value of 2.29 (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.74, sensitivity and specificity = 0.78, p = 0.023) for separating patients with short and long PFS. The optimal K trans mean cutoff was 0.08 (AUC = 0.74, sensitivity = 0.67, specificity = 0.78, p = 0.025). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis with log-rank test demonstrated significantly (p = 0.015) increased risk of rapid progression for patients with Vp mean < 2.29. Vp mean was significantly (p = 0.03) associated with PFS on univariate Cox analysis. Apparent diffusion coefficient values and clinical factors did not influence PFS. Conclusions Pretreatment Vp and K trans derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI may be novel prognostic quantitative imaging biomarkers of progression-free survival in patients with PCNSL. These data should be prospectively validated in larger patient cohorts.