Perfusion Parameter Obtained on 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Ki-67 Labeling Index Predict the Overall Survival of Glioblastoma

BACKGROUND: Pulsed arterial spin-labeling, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) are useful for predicting glioma survival. We performed a comparative review of multiple parameters obtained using these pulse sequences on 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including the molecular status and Ki-67 labeling index in newly diagnosed supratentorial glioblastomas. METHODS: A total of 35 patients with glioblastomas underwent pulsed arterial spin-labeling, DTI, and MRS studies using 3-Tesla MRI preoperatively. The isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status, methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase methylation status, and Ki-67 labeling index were calculated from the tumor specimen. Cutoff values were identified by analyzing a receiver operating characteristic curve, and the multivariate survival statistical technique was performed to determine the significant and independent parameters for predicting overall survival. RESULTS: The multivariate Cox analysis showed that the maximum/mean relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) ratio and the Ki-67 labeling index were significant and independent predictive parameters with a cutoff value of 1.589 for the maximum rCBF ratio, 1.286 for the mean rCBF ratio, and 19% for the Ki-67 labeling index and hazard ratios of 6.132 and 5.119, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that patients with higher rCBF ratios and Ki-67 labeling indices had a shorter overall survival than others, with median overall survival durations of 479 (95% CI, 370-559) and 1243 (95% CI, 666-NA) days, respectively (P = 0.000167). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the preoperative rCBF ratio and Ki-67 labeling index are useful parameters for predicting the overall survival of cerebral glioblastomas.