MRI features and texture analysis for the early prediction of therapeutic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and tumor recurrence of locally advanced rectal cancer

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of imaging features and texture analysis (TA) based on baseline rectal MRI for the early prediction of therapeutic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and tumor recurrence in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Methods Consecutive patients with LARC who underwent rectal MRI between January 2014 and December 2015 and surgical resection after completing nCRT were retrospectively enrolled. Imaging features were analyzed, and TA parameters were extracted from the tumor volume of interest (VOI) from baseline rectal MRI. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the optimal TA parameter cutoff values to stratify the patients. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the efficacy of each imaging feature and texture parameter in predicting tumor response and disease-free survival. Results In total, 78 consecutive patients were enrolled. In the logistic regression, good treatment response was associated with lower tumor location (OR = 13.284,p = 0.012), low Conv_Min (OR = 0.300,p = 0.013) and high Conv_Std (OR = 3.174,p = 0.016), Shape_Sphericity (OR = 3.170,p = 0.015), and Shape_Compacity (OR = 2.779,p = 0.032). In the Cox regression, a greater risk of tumor recurrence was related to higher cT stage (HR = 5.374,p = 0.044), pelvic side wall lymph node positivity (HR = 2.721,p = 0.013), and gray-level run length matrix_long-run low gray-level emphasis (HR = 2.268,p = 0.046). Conclusions Imaging features and TA based on baseline rectal MRI could be valuable for predicting the treatment response to nCRT for rectal cancer and tumor recurrence.