Assessment of prognostic indicators and KRAS mutations in rectal cancer using a fractional-order calculus MR diffusion model: whole tumor histogram analysis.

purposeThis study aims to explore the relationship between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional-order calculus (FROC)-specific parameters with prognostic indicators and Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue (KRAS) mutation status in rectal cancer.

methodsOne hundred fifty-eight patients with rectal cancer were retrospectively enrolled. Histogram measurements of ADC, diffusion coefficient (D), intravoxel diffusion heterogeneity (β), and a microstructural quantity (μ) were estimated for the whole-tumor volume. The relationships between histogram measurements and prognostic indicators were evaluated. The efficacy of histogram measurements, both conducted singly and in conjunction, for evaluating different KRAS mutation statuses was also assessed. The performance of mean and median histogram measurements in evaluating various KRAS mutation statuses was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

resultsThe histogram measurements of ADC, D, β, and μ differed significantly between well-moderately differentiated groups and poorly differentiated groups, T1-2 and T3-4 subgroups, lymph node metastasis (LNM)-negative and LNM-positive subgroups, extranodal extension (ENE)-negative and ENE-positive subgroups, tumor deposit (TD)-negative and TD-positive subgroups, and lymphovascular invasion (LVI)-negative and LVI-positive subgroups. The combination of D

conclusionWhen assessing parameters from the FROC model as potential biomarkers through histograms, they surpass traditional ADC values in distinguishing prognostic indicators and determining KRAS mutation status in rectal cancer.