Targeted Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound Imaging Correlated To Vasculogenic Mimicry In Ovarian Cancer

Objective: To assess the density of vasculogenic mimicry in ovarian cancer of nude mice xenograft tumors at different stages and to find a correlation between VM and its targeted ultrasound imaging indices in ovarian cancer and to explore the value of targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.Methods: 50BALB/c-Nude female mice were randomly divided into 5 groups,each group of 10,and ovarian cancer of Nude mice xenograft tumor model was set up.Five groups of Nude mice xenograft tumor models growing days of 14,21,28,35 and 42 days conducted non-targeted and targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging examination,analyzing the differences between 5 groups of time-intensity curves(TIC)of related indices in non-targeted and targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging.CD31 and PAS double staining method was undertaken to obtain VM expression in ovarian xenograft tumors in different period and to obtain the average density of VM.Correlation analysis was undertaken between various periods of ovarian xenograft tumors conducting non-targeted and targeted ultrasound imaging indices and VM density.The value of targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound in ovarian cancer was analyzed by comparing with non-targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound.Results: Subcutaneous human ovarian cancer nude mice xenograft tumors were established successfully.Two kinds of contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging was compared in 5 groups:The differences of time-intensity curves(TIC)indices,peak intensity(PI),in 14,21 and 28 days groups had statistical significance(P<0.05).Immunohistochemical staining results showed that VM density in 5 groups were statistically significantly different(P=0.001),presenting the trend of increase in early stage and reduced in late stage.PI in the groups of 14 days,21 days and 28 days are all positively correlated with the density of the VM(r=0.698,0.660,0.681;P<0.05).TTP in the groups of 14 daysand 28 days are all negatively correlated with the density of theVM(r=-0.639,-0.742;P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the correlation analysis between the non-targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters and the VM density of the ovarian cancer xenograft tumors at all groups.Conclusions: Targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging indices in different stages of ovarian cancer xenografts revealed some certain correlation with early ovarian cancer vasculogenic mimicry(VM),the results presented the value in early ovarian cancer diagnosis.