Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Correlates with Necrosis and Inversely with Proliferation: Histopathological Quantification in a Panel of Human Tumour Xenografts

Jane Halliday¹, Jose Ulloa¹, Marietta Scott¹, Graham Bigley², Herve Barjat¹, Neil Gray², John C. Waterton¹, Chris Womack², Carsten Liess¹

The water proton Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) has been proposed as a biomarker of the non-viable fraction in tumours. Our aim was to evaluate the correlation between ADC and histopathology in a diverse panel of human tumour xenografts commonly used in a preclinical drug efficacy evaluation. There was a significant correlation between ADC and necrosis (N=19, p=0.02) and a significant inverse correlation with proliferation (N=19, p=0.005), but no correlation with oedema.