Motivation: Existing standard methods, including MRI, are inadequate for assessment of CR. Goal(s): To assess the value of Amide Proton Transfer-weighted (APTw) MRI in the assessment of CR to NAT in LARC. Approach: Conventional assessments of CR to NAT based on post-NAT T2WI and DWI, tumor segmentation, and histogram analysis based on post-NAT APTw images, were performed by two experienced radiologists independently. APTw-added combined model (combination of APT histogram, T2WI, and DWI) was constructed. Results: The AUC of the APTw-added combined model for assessing CR to NAT was significantly higher than that of conventional assessment (0.97 vs 0.71, P< .001). Impact: Our study revealed the clinical significance of APTw MRI as a promising imaging modality for assessing CR to NAT in LARC. APTw MRI can provide unique insights into tumor metabolism and microenvironment, surpassing the capabilities of traditional MRI.
Zhang et al. (Tue,) studied this question.