Multiparametric MR characterization for human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 expression in bladder cancer: an exploratory study

Abstract Purpose To investigate the application value of multiparametric MRI in evaluating the expression status of human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in bladder cancer (BCa). Methods From April 2021 and July 2023, preoperative imaging manifestations of 90 patients with pathologically confirmed BCa were retrospectively collected and analyzed. All patients underwent multiparametric MRI including SyMRI, DWI, from which the T1, T2, proton density (PD) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were obtained. The clinical and imaging characteristics as well as quantitative parameters (T1, T2, PD and ADC values) between HER2-positive and -negative BCa were compared using student t test and chi-square test. The diagnostic efficacy of parameters in predicting HER2 expression state was evaluated by calculating the area under ROC curve(AUC). Results In total, 76 patients(mean age, 63.59 years ± 12.84 [SD]; 55 men) were included: 51 with HER2-negative and 25 with HER2-positive. HER2 -positive group demonstrated significantly higher ADC, T1, and T2 values than HER2-negative group (all P < 0.05). The combination of ADC values and tumor grade yielded the best diagnostic performance in evaluating HER2 expression level with an AUC area of 0.864. Conclusion The multiparametric MR characterization can accurately evaluate the HER2 expression status in BCa, which may further guide the determination of individualized anti-HER2 targeted therapy strategies.