DWI for Assessing Tumor-Associated Angiogenesis in Rectal Cancer

EasyChair Preprint 14759

Abstract

Tumor-associated angiogenesis is a critical process in the progression and metastasis of rectal cancer, providing essential blood supply to support tumor growth. The ability to assess angiogenesis non-invasively is vital for accurate staging, prognosis, and treatment planning. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), an MRI technique that measures the diffusion of water molecules in tissue, offers unique potential for evaluating tumor microstructure and angiogenesis without the need for contrast agents.
This review explores the principles of DWI, including its primary metric, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and how diffusion patterns reflect changes in tumor vascularity. It discusses the role of DWI in identifying angiogenesis in rectal cancer, its clinical applications for pretreatment staging, monitoring therapeutic response, and post-treatment follow-up. ADC values can serve as biomarkers for tumor aggressiveness, allowing clinicians to assess treatment efficacy and predict long-term outcomes.
While DWI has several advantages over traditional imaging modalities, challenges such as technical limitations, biological variability, and lack of histopathological correlation must be addressed. The future of DWI in rectal cancer management will likely involve advances in imaging technology, integration with other modalities, and the application of machine learning to enhance predictive accuracy. Continued research is needed to fully validate the use of DWI for assessing angiogenesis and improving personalized treatment strategies for rectal cancer patients.

Keyphrases: DWI for Assessing Tumor-Associated Angiogenesis in Rectal Cancer, DWI in Tumor Imaging, Rectal cancer, Tumor-Associated Angiogenesis

@booklet{EasyChair:14759,
  author    = {Oyerinde Bamiyinoluwa},
  title     = {DWI for Assessing Tumor-Associated Angiogenesis in Rectal Cancer},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 14759},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2024}}