Proton magnetic resonance spectral patterns of metastasizing and nonmetastasizing human colon cancers
W. Chen, J. W. Frazer, L. Dennis, C. M. McBride and A. W. Boddie Jr
Department of Surgery, University of Texas System Cancer Center and M.D. Anderson Hospital, Houston 77030.
The spectral features of surgically staged metastasizing (ie, modified
Duke's stages C and D) and nonmetastasizing (ie, modified Duke's stages A
and B1-2) human colon cancers were studied using 60-MHz continuous wave and
200-MHz pulse Fourier transform proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Twenty-one human colon cancers (four nonmetastasizing and 17 metastasizing
tumors) collectively contained 24 spectral peaks. A peak at 6.7 to 6.87
parts per million cycles (ppm) was found in three nonmetastasizing tumors
but only one metastasizing tumor; the mean area at this peak location was
significantly higher in the nonmetastasizing tumors. Mean peak areas at 1.4
to 1.47 ppm, 2.0 to 2.33 ppm, and 8.3 to 8.6 ppm were significantly higher
in metastasizing tumors; however, these peaks were observed with only
marginally greater frequency in metastasizing vs nonmetastasizing tumors:
seven of 17 vs zero of four, 11 of 17 vs one of four, and eight of 17 vs
zero of four tumors, respectively. This study suggests that magnetic
resonance spectral features may aid in staging human colon cancers and
could be used to enhance magnetic resonance imaging of these lesions.