Correlation of ~1H-MRS features with PCNA expression in cerebral astrocytoma

Objective: To study the correlation between ~1H-MRS, histopathology and PCNA expression. Methods: Fifty-eight patients with surgically and pathologically proved astrocytoma were analyzed. MR, ~1H-MRS and MR enhancement scan were performed before operation. The ratio of metabolic material(Cho/Cr, NAA/Cho) came from different areas of tumors were calculated respectively. PCNA was stained with S-P immunohistochemical technique in 58 samples of astrocytoma. Results: The ratios of metabolic material(Cho/Cr, Cho/NAA) of astrocytoma proved to be high pathological grade were significantly higher than those astrocytoma proved to be lower pathological grade(P0.05). Correlation between PCNA expression of different grade astrocytoma and the ratio of Cho/Cr is good(P0.05). Conclusion: 1H-MRS has important value both in assessing the malignant grading of astrocytoma before operation and in evaluating indirect proliferating potential and prognosis of tumor cells by quantitative analyzing the ratio of metabolic material(Cho/Cr, NAA/Cho), and the correlation between the ratio of Cho/Cr and PCNA expression.