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Di Ieva A. Computational Fractal-Based Analysis of MR Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging (SWI) in Neuro-Oncology and Neurotraumatology. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 36:445-468. [PMID: 38468047 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-47606-8_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique able to depict the magnetic susceptibility produced by different substances, such as deoxyhemoglobin, calcium, and iron. The main application of SWI in clinical neuroimaging is detecting microbleedings and venous vasculature. Quantitative analyses of SWI have been developed over the last few years, aimed to offer new parameters, which could be used as neuroimaging biomarkers. Each technique has shown pros and cons, but no gold standard exists yet. The fractal dimension (FD) has been investigated as a novel potential objective parameter for monitoring intratumoral space-filling properties of SWI patterns. We showed that SWI patterns found in different tumors or different glioma grades can be represented by a gradient in the fractal dimension, thereby enabling each tumor to be assigned a specific SWI fingerprint. Such results were especially relevant in the differentiation of low-grade versus high-grade gliomas, as well as from high-grade gliomas versus lymphomas.Therefore, FD has been suggested as a potential image biomarker to analyze intrinsic neoplastic architecture in order to improve the differential diagnosis within clinical neuroimaging, determine appropriate therapy, and improve outcome in patients.These promising preliminary findings could be extended into the field of neurotraumatology, by means of the application of computational fractal-based analysis for the qualitative and quantitative imaging of microbleedings in traumatic brain injury patients. In consideration of some evidences showing that SWI signals are correlated with trauma clinical severity, FD might offer some objective prognostic biomarkers.In conclusion, fractal-based morphometrics of SWI could be further investigated to be used in a complementary way with other techniques, in order to form a holistic understanding of the temporal evolution of brain tumors and follow-up response to treatment, with several further applications in other fields, such as neurotraumatology and cerebrovascular neurosurgery as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Di Ieva
- Computational NeuroSurgery (CNS) Lab & Macquarie Neurosurgery, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Human and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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2
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Sánchez J, Martín-Landrove M. Multifractal Analysis of Brain Tumor Interface in Glioblastoma. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 36:487-499. [PMID: 38468049 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-47606-8_25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The dynamics of tumor growth is a very complex process, generally accompanied by numerous chromosomal aberrations that determine its genetic and dynamical heterogeneity. Consequently, the tumor interface exhibits a non-regular and heterogeneous behavior often described by a single fractal dimension. A more suitable approach is to consider the tumor interface as a multifractal object that can be described by a set of generalized fractal dimensions. In the present work, detrended fluctuation and multifractal analysis are used to characterize the complexity of glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacksson Sánchez
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Physics Department, Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Miguel Martín-Landrove
- Centre for Medical Visualization, National Institute for Bioengineering, INABIO, Universidad Central de Venezuela and Centro de Diagnóstico Docente Las Mercedes, Caracas, Venezuela.
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3
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Díaz Beltrán L, Madan CR, Finke C, Krohn S, Di Ieva A, Esteban FJ. Fractal Dimension Analysis in Neurological Disorders: An Overview. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 36:313-328. [PMID: 38468040 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-47606-8_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Fractal analysis has emerged as a powerful tool for characterizing irregular and complex patterns found in the nervous system. This characterization is typically applied by estimating the fractal dimension (FD), a scalar index that describes the topological complexity of the irregular components of the nervous system, both at the macroscopic and microscopic levels, that may be viewed as geometric fractals. Moreover, temporal properties of neurophysiological signals can also be interpreted as dynamic fractals. Given its sensitivity for detecting changes in brain morphology, FD has been explored as a clinically relevant marker of brain damage in several neuropsychiatric conditions as well as in normal and pathological cerebral aging. In this sense, evidence is accumulating for decreases in FD in Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and many other neurological disorders. In addition, it is becoming increasingly clear that fractal analysis in the field of clinical neurology opens the possibility of detecting structural alterations in the early stages of the disease, which highlights FD as a potential diagnostic and prognostic tool in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Díaz Beltrán
- Department of Medical Oncology, Clinical Research Unit, University Hospital of Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | | | - Carsten Finke
- Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephan Krohn
- Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Antonio Di Ieva
- Computational NeuroSurgery (CNS) Lab, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Francisco J Esteban
- Systems Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain.
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4
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Karperien AL, Jelinek HF. Box-Counting Fractal Analysis: A Primer for the Clinician. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 36:15-55. [PMID: 38468026 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-47606-8_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
This chapter lays out the elementary principles of fractal geometry underpinning much of the rest of this book. It assumes a minimal mathematical background, defines the key principles and terms in context, and outlines the basics of a fractal analysis method known as box counting and how it is used to perform fractal, lacunarity, and multifractal analyses. As a standalone reference, this chapter grounds the reader to be able to understand, evaluate, and apply essential methods to appreciate and heal the exquisitely detailed fractal geometry of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Herbert F Jelinek
- Department of Medical Sciences and Biotechnology Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
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5
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Al-Kadi OS, Di Ieva A. Fractal-Based Analysis of Histological Features of Brain Tumors. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 36:501-524. [PMID: 38468050 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-47606-8_26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The structural complexity of brain tumor tissue represents a major challenge for effective histopathological diagnosis. Tumor vasculature is known to be heterogeneous, and mixtures of patterns are usually present. Therefore, extracting key descriptive features for accurate quantification is not a straightforward task. Several steps are involved in the texture analysis process where tissue heterogeneity contributes to the variability of the results. One of the interesting aspects of the brain lies in its fractal nature. Many regions within the brain tissue yield similar statistical properties at different scales of magnification. Fractal-based analysis of the histological features of brain tumors can reveal the underlying complexity of tissue structure and angiostructure, also providing an indication of tissue abnormality development. It can further be used to quantify the chaotic signature of disease to distinguish between different temporal tumor stages and histopathological grades.Brain meningioma subtype classifications' improvement from histopathological images is the main focus of this chapter. Meningioma tissue texture exhibits a wide range of histological patterns whereby a single slide may show a combination of multiple patterns. Distinctive fractal patterns quantified in a multiresolution manner would be for better spatial relationship representation. Fractal features extracted from textural tissue patterns can be useful in characterizing meningioma tumors in terms of subtype classification, a challenging problem compared to histological grading, and furthermore can provide an objective measure for quantifying subtle features within subtypes that are hard to discriminate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar S Al-Kadi
- Artificial Intelligence Department, King Abdullah II School for Information Technology, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
| | - Antonio Di Ieva
- Computational NeuroSurgery (CNS) Lab & Macquarie Neurosurgery, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Human and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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6
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Di Ieva A, Al-Kadi OS. Computational Fractal-Based Analysis of Brain Tumor Microvascular Networks. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 36:525-544. [PMID: 38468051 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-47606-8_27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Brain parenchyma microvasculature is set in disarray in the presence of tumors, and malignant brain tumors are among the most vascularized neoplasms in humans. As microvessels can be easily identified in histologic specimens, quantification of microvascularity can be used alone or in combination with other histological features to increase the understanding of the dynamic behavior, diagnosis, and prognosis of brain tumors. Different brain tumors, and even subtypes of the same tumor, show specific microvascular patterns, as a kind of "microvascular fingerprint," which is particular to each histotype. Reliable morphometric parameters are required for the qualitative and quantitative characterization of the neoplastic angioarchitecture, although the lack of standardization of a technique able to quantify the microvascular patterns in an objective way has limited the "morphometric approach" in neuro-oncology.In this chapter, we focus on the importance of computational-based morphometrics, for the objective description of tumoral microvascular fingerprinting. By also introducing the concept of "angio-space," which is the tumoral space occupied by the microvessels, we here present fractal analysis as the most reliable computational tool able to offer objective parameters for the description of the microvascular networks.The spectrum of different angioarchitectural configurations can be quantified by means of Euclidean and fractal-based parameters in a multiparametric analysis, aimed to offer surrogate biomarkers of cancer. Such parameters are here described from the methodological point of view (i.e., feature extraction) as well as from the clinical perspective (i.e., relation to underlying physiology), in order to offer new computational parameters to the clinicians with the final goal of improving diagnostic and prognostic power of patients affected by brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Di Ieva
- Computational NeuroSurgery (CNS) Lab & Macquarie Neurosurgery, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Human and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Omar S Al-Kadi
- Artificial Intelligence Department, King Abdullah II School for Information Technology, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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Grizzi F, Hegazi MAAA, Zanoni M, Vota P, Toia G, Clementi MC, Mazzieri C, Chiriva-Internati M, Taverna G. Prostate Cancer Microvascular Routes: Exploration and Measurement Strategies. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2034. [PMID: 37895416 PMCID: PMC10608780 DOI: 10.3390/life13102034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is acknowledged as a pivotal feature in the pathology of human cancer. Despite the absence of universally accepted markers for gauging the comprehensive angiogenic activity in prostate cancer (PCa) that could steer the formulation of focused anti-angiogenic treatments, the scrutiny of diverse facets of tumoral blood vessel development may furnish significant understanding of angiogenic processes. Malignant neoplasms, encompassing PCa, deploy a myriad of strategies to secure an adequate blood supply. These modalities range from sprouting angiogenesis and vasculogenesis to intussusceptive angiogenesis, vascular co-option, the formation of mosaic vessels, vasculogenic mimicry, the conversion of cancer stem-like cells into tumor endothelial cells, and vascular pruning. Here we provide a thorough review of these angiogenic mechanisms as they relate to PCa, discuss their prospective relevance for predictive and prognostic evaluations, and outline the prevailing obstacles in quantitatively evaluating neovascularization via histopathological examinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Grizzi
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy;
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, 20072 Milan, Italy;
| | - Mohamed A. A. A. Hegazi
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy;
| | - Matteo Zanoni
- Department of Urology, Humanitas Mater Domini, Castellanza, 21053 Varese, Italy; (M.Z.); (P.V.); (G.T.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Paolo Vota
- Department of Urology, Humanitas Mater Domini, Castellanza, 21053 Varese, Italy; (M.Z.); (P.V.); (G.T.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Giovanni Toia
- Department of Urology, Humanitas Mater Domini, Castellanza, 21053 Varese, Italy; (M.Z.); (P.V.); (G.T.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Maria Chiara Clementi
- Department of Urology, Humanitas Mater Domini, Castellanza, 21053 Varese, Italy; (M.Z.); (P.V.); (G.T.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Cinzia Mazzieri
- Department of Urology, Humanitas Mater Domini, Castellanza, 21053 Varese, Italy; (M.Z.); (P.V.); (G.T.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Maurizio Chiriva-Internati
- Departments of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Gianluigi Taverna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, 20072 Milan, Italy;
- Department of Urology, Humanitas Mater Domini, Castellanza, 21053 Varese, Italy; (M.Z.); (P.V.); (G.T.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.)
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8
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Grizzi F, Spadaccini M, Chiriva-Internati M, Hegazi MAAA, Bresalier RS, Hassan C, Repici A, Carrara S. Fractal nature of human gastrointestinal system: Exploring a new era. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:4036-4052. [PMID: 37476585 PMCID: PMC10354580 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i25.4036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The morphological complexity of cells and tissues, whether normal or pathological, is characterized by two primary attributes: Irregularity and self-similarity across different scales. When an object exhibits self-similarity, its shape remains unchanged as the scales of measurement vary because any part of it resembles the whole. On the other hand, the size and geometric characteristics of an irregular object vary as the resolution increases, revealing more intricate details. Despite numerous attempts, a reliable and accurate method for quantifying the morphological features of gastrointestinal organs, tissues, cells, their dynamic changes, and pathological disorders has not yet been established. However, fractal geometry, which studies shapes and patterns that exhibit self-similarity, holds promise in providing a quantitative measure of the irregularly shaped morphologies and their underlying self-similar temporal behaviors. In this context, we explore the fractal nature of the gastrointestinal system and the potential of fractal geometry as a robust descriptor of its complex forms and functions. Additionally, we examine the practical applications of fractal geometry in clinical gastroenterology and hepatology practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Grizzi
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano 20089, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele 20072, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Spadaccini
- Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano 20089, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Chiriva-Internati
- Departments of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Mohamed A A A Hegazi
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano 20089, Milan, Italy
| | - Robert S Bresalier
- Departments of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Cesare Hassan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele 20072, Milan, Italy
- Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano 20089, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Repici
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele 20072, Milan, Italy
- Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano 20089, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Carrara
- Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano 20089, Milan, Italy
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9
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Lookian PP, Chen EX, Elhers LD, Ellis DG, Juneau P, Wagoner J, Aizenberg MR. The Association of Fractal Dimension with Vascularity and Clinical Outcomes in Glioblastoma. World Neurosurg 2022; 166:e44-e51. [PMID: 35772703 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.06.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growing evidence indicates fractal analysis (FA) has potential as a computational tool to assess tumor microvasculature in glioblastoma (GBM). As fractal parameters of microvasculature have shown to be reliable quantitative biomarkers in brain tumors, there has been similar success in measuring the architecture of tumor tissue using FA in other tumor types. However, evaluating fractal parameters of tissue structure in relation to the microvasculature has not yet been implemented in GBM. We aimed to assess the utility of this methodology in quantifying structural characteristics of GBM cytoarchitecture and vascularity by correlating fractal parameters with gene expression. METHODS Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens were retrospectively collected from 43 patients following resection of a newly diagnosed GBM; 4 normal brain specimens were obtained from epilepsy surgeries as controls. Tumor samples were processed using FA employing a software-based box-counting method algorithm and custom messenger RNA expression assays. Fractal parameters were then correlated with clinical features, outcomes, and a panel of 92 genes associated with vascularity and angiogenesis. RESULTS Statistical analysis demonstrated that fractal-based indices were not adequate parameters for distinction of GBM cytoarchitecture compared with normal brain specimens. Correlation analysis of our gene expression findings suggested that hematoxylin and eosin-based FA may have adequate sensitivity to detect associations with vascular gene expression. CONCLUSIONS The combination of neuropathological assessment and histology does not provide optimized data for FA in GBM. However, an association between FA and gene expression in GBM of genes pertaining to cytoarchitecture and angiogenesis warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pashayar P Lookian
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Eric X Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Landon D Elhers
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - David G Ellis
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Paul Juneau
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jackson Wagoner
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Michele R Aizenberg
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
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10
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Hahn A, Bode J, Alexander A, Karimian-Jazi K, Schregel K, Schwarz D, Sommerkamp AC, Krüwel T, Abdollahi A, Wick W, Platten M, Bendszus M, Tews B, Kurz FT, Breckwoldt MO. Large-scale characterization of the microvascular geometry in development and disease by tissue clearing and quantitative ultramicroscopy. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2021; 41:1536-1546. [PMID: 33043767 PMCID: PMC8217891 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x20961854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Three-dimensional assessment of optically cleared, entire organs and organisms has recently become possible by tissue clearing and selective plane illumination microscopy ("ultramicroscopy"). Resulting datasets can be highly complex, encompass over a thousand images with millions of objects and data of several gigabytes per acquisition. This constitutes a major challenge for quantitative analysis. We have developed post-processing tools to quantify millions of microvessels and their distribution in three-dimensional datasets from ultramicroscopy and demonstrate the capabilities of our pipeline within entire mouse brains and embryos. Using our developed acquisition, segmentation, and analysis platform, we quantify physiological vascular networks in development and the healthy brain. We compare various geometric vessel parameters (e.g. vessel density, radius, tortuosity) in the embryonic spinal cord and brain as well as in different brain regions (basal ganglia, corpus callosum, cortex). White matter tract structures (corpus callosum, spinal cord) showed lower microvascular branch densities and longer vessel branch length compared to grey matter (cortex, basal ganglia). Furthermore, we assess tumor neoangiogenesis in a mouse glioma model to compare tumor core and tumor border. The developed methodology allows rapid quantification of three-dimensional datasets by semi-automated segmentation of fluorescently labeled objects with conventional computer hardware. Our approach can aid preclinical investigations and paves the way towards "quantitative ultramicroscopy".
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Hahn
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Bode
- Schaller Research Group at the University of Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Invasion, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Allen Alexander
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Katharina Schregel
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel Schwarz
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander C Sommerkamp
- Schaller Research Group at the University of Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Invasion, Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Krüwel
- Schaller Research Group at the University of Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Invasion, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Amir Abdollahi
- German Cancer Consortium and Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology, National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Heidelberg, Germany.,Heidelberg University School of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wick
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Platten
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Bendszus
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Björn Tews
- Schaller Research Group at the University of Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Invasion, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix T Kurz
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael O Breckwoldt
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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11
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The histological representativeness of glioblastoma tissue samples. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2021; 163:1911-1920. [PMID: 33085022 PMCID: PMC8195928 DOI: 10.1007/s00701-020-04608-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Background Glioblastomas (GBMs) are known for having a vastly heterogenous histopathology. Several studies have shown that GBMs can be histologically undergraded due to sampling errors of small tissue samples. We sought to explore to what extent histological features in GBMs are dependent on the amount of viable tissue on routine slides from both biopsied and resected tumors. Methods In 106 newly diagnosed GBM patients, we investigated associations between the presence or degree of 24 histopathological and two immunohistochemical features and the tissue amount on hematoxylin-eosin (HE) slides. The amount of viable tissue was semiquantitatively categorized as “sparse,” “medium,” or “substantial” for each case. Tissue amount was also assessed for associations with MRI volumetrics and the type of surgical procedure. Results About half (46%) of the assessed histological and immunohistochemical features were significantly associated with tissue amount. The significant features were less present or of a lesser degree when the tissue amount was smaller. Among the significant features were most of the features relevant for diffuse astrocytic tumor grading, i.e., small necroses, palisades, microvascular proliferation, atypia, mitotic count, and Ki-67/MIB-1 proliferative index (PI). Conclusion A substantial proportion of the assessed histological features were at risk of being underrepresented when the amount of viable tissue on HE slides was limited. Most of the grading features were dependent on tissue amount, which underlines the importance of considering sampling errors in diffuse astrocytic tumor grading. Our findings also highlight the importance of adequate tissue collection to increase the quality of diagnostics and histological research.
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12
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Dinčić M, Todorović J, Nešović Ostojić J, Kovačević S, Dunđerović D, Lopičić S, Spasić S, Radojević-Škodrić S, Stanisavljević D, Ilić AŽ. The Fractal and GLCM Textural Parameters of Chromatin May Be Potential Biomarkers of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Specimens. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2020; 26:717-730. [PMID: 32588793 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927620001683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Occasionally, Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) share similar nuclear features. The current study aims to quantify the differences between the investigated specimens of HT-associated PTC versus the HT alone, to reduce the subjective experience of an observer, by the use of fractal parameters as well as gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) textural parameters. We have analyzed 250 segmented nuclei per group (nn = 25 per patient and np = 10 patients per group) using the ImageJ software (NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA) as well as an in-house written code for the GLCM analysis. The mean values of parameters were calculated for each patient. The results demonstrated that the malignant cells from the HT-associated PTC specimens showed lower chromatin fractal dimension (p = 0.0321) and higher lacunarity (p = 0.0038) compared with the corresponding cells from the HT specimens. Also, there was a statistically significant difference between the investigated specimens, in the contrast, correlation, angular second moment, and homogeneity, of the GLCM corresponding to the visual texture of follicular cell chromatin. The differences in chromatin fractal and GLCM parameters could be integrated with other diagnostic methods for the improved evaluation of distinctive features of the HT-associated PTC versus the HT in cytology and surgical pathology specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Dinčić
- Institute of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 9, Belgrade11000, Serbia
| | - Jasna Todorović
- Institute of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 9, Belgrade11000, Serbia
| | - Jelena Nešović Ostojić
- Institute of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 9, Belgrade11000, Serbia
| | - Sanjin Kovačević
- Institute of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 9, Belgrade11000, Serbia
| | - Duško Dunđerović
- Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Srđan Lopičić
- Institute of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 9, Belgrade11000, Serbia
| | - Svetolik Spasić
- Institute of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 9, Belgrade11000, Serbia
| | | | - Dejana Stanisavljević
- Institute of Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Andjelija Ž Ilić
- Institute of Physics Belgrade, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080Zemun-Belgrade, Serbia
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13
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Todorović J, Dinčić M, Nešović Ostojić J, Zaletel I, Lopičić S, Dundjerović D, Tatić S, Kovačević S, Paunović I, Puškaš N, Marković L. Differences in Chromatin Texture and Nuclear Fractal Dimension Between Hashimoto's and Lymphocytic Thyroiditis Lymphocytes. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2019; 25:762-768. [PMID: 30813976 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927619000163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Previous evidence suggested that lymphocytic thyroiditis (LT) was a variant of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), thus the aim of the current study is to quantify structural changes in histological specimens taken from HT and LT patients. A total of 600 images containing a single lymphocyte nucleus (300 nuclei per group) were obtained from 20 patients with HT and LT. In order to quantify changes in the nuclear architecture of investigated lymphocytes, the fractal dimension (FD) and some gray-level co-occurrence matrix texture parameters (angular second moment, inverse difference moment, contrast, entropy, and correlation) were calculated for each nucleus. A statistically significant difference in the FD of the "binary-outlined" nucleus and that of the corresponding "black-and-white" nucleus was detected between HT and LT lymphocyte nuclei. In addition, there was also a statistically significant difference in contrast and correlation between HT and LT lymphocyte nuclei. In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that there was a difference in structural complexity between investigated lymphocyte nuclei; additionally, LT lymphocytes possessed probably more complex texture and larger variations as well as more asymmetrical nuclei compared with HT lymphocytes. Accordingly, these findings indicate that LT is probably not a variant of HT; however, more complex studies are necessary to estimate differences between these types of thyroiditis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasna Todorović
- Faculty of Medicine,Institute of Pathological Physiology, University of Belgrade,Serbia
| | - Marko Dinčić
- Faculty of Medicine,Institute of Pathological Physiology, University of Belgrade,Serbia
| | | | - Ivan Zaletel
- Faculty of Medicine,Institute of Histology and Embryology, University of Belgrade,Serbia
| | - Srdjan Lopičić
- Faculty of Medicine,Institute of Pathological Physiology, University of Belgrade,Serbia
| | - Duško Dundjerović
- Faculty of Medicine,Institute of Pathology, University of Belgrade,Serbia
| | - Svetislav Tatić
- Faculty of Medicine,Institute of Pathology, University of Belgrade,Serbia
| | - Sanjin Kovačević
- Faculty of Medicine,Institute of Pathological Physiology, University of Belgrade,Serbia
| | - Ivan Paunović
- Faculty of Medicine,Center for Endocrine Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, University of Belgrade,Serbia
| | - Nela Puškaš
- Faculty of Medicine,Institute of Histology and Embryology, University of Belgrade,Serbia
| | - Ljiljana Marković
- Faculty of Medicine,Institute of Pathological Physiology, University of Belgrade,Serbia
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14
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Breckwoldt MO, Bode J, Sahm F, Krüwel T, Solecki G, Hahn A, Wirthschaft P, Berghoff AS, Haas M, Venkataramani V, von Deimling A, Wick W, Herold-Mende C, Heiland S, Platten M, Bendszus M, Kurz FT, Winkler F, Tews B. Correlated MRI and Ultramicroscopy (MR-UM) of Brain Tumors Reveals Vast Heterogeneity of Tumor Infiltration and Neoangiogenesis in Preclinical Models and Human Disease. Front Neurosci 2019; 12:1004. [PMID: 30686972 PMCID: PMC6335617 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.01004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffuse tumor infiltration into the adjacent parenchyma is an effective dissemination mechanism of brain tumors. We have previously developed correlated high field magnetic resonance imaging and ultramicroscopy (MR-UM) to study neonangiogenesis in a glioma model. In the present study we used MR-UM to investigate tumor infiltration and neoangiogenesis in a translational approach. We compare infiltration and neoangiogenesis patterns in four brain tumor models and the human disease: whereas the U87MG glioma model resembles brain metastases with an encapsulated growth and extensive neoangiogenesis, S24 experimental gliomas mimic IDH1 wildtype glioblastomas, exhibiting infiltration into the adjacent parenchyma and along white matter tracts to the contralateral hemisphere. MR-UM resolves tumor infiltration and neoangiogenesis longitudinally based on the expression of fluorescent proteins, intravital dyes or endogenous contrasts. Our study demonstrates the huge morphological diversity of brain tumor models regarding their infiltrative and neoangiogenic capacities and further establishes MR-UM as a platform for translational neuroimaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael O Breckwoldt
- Neuroradiology Department, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Bode
- Schaller Research Group at the University of Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Invasion, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix Sahm
- Department of Neuropathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Krüwel
- Schaller Research Group at the University of Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Invasion, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gergely Solecki
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Within the DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Artur Hahn
- Neuroradiology Department, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Wirthschaft
- Schaller Research Group at the University of Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Invasion, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna S Berghoff
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Within the DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Haas
- Neuroradiology Department, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Varun Venkataramani
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Within the DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas von Deimling
- Department of Neuropathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wick
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Within the DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christel Herold-Mende
- Division of Experimental Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabine Heiland
- Neuroradiology Department, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Platten
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martin Bendszus
- Neuroradiology Department, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix T Kurz
- Neuroradiology Department, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Winkler
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Within the DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Björn Tews
- Schaller Research Group at the University of Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Invasion, Heidelberg, Germany
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15
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Vascular amounts and dispersion of caliber-classified vessels as key parameters to quantitate 3D micro-angioarchitectures in multiple myeloma experimental tumors. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17520. [PMID: 30504794 PMCID: PMC6269464 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35788-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood vessel micro-angioarchitecture plays a pivotal role in tumor progression, metastatic dissemination and response to therapy. Thus, methods able to quantify microvascular trees and their anomalies may allow a better comprehension of the neovascularization process and evaluation of vascular-targeted therapies in cancer. To this aim, the development of a restricted set of indexes able to describe the arrangement of a microvascular tree is eagerly required. We addressed this goal through 3D analysis of the functional microvascular network in sulfo-biotin-stained human multiple myeloma KMS-11 xenografts in NOD/SCID mice. Using image analysis, we show that amounts, spatial dispersion and spatial relationships of adjacent classes of caliber-filtered microvessels provide a near-linear graphical “fingerprint” of tumor micro-angioarchitecture. Position, slope and axial projections of this graphical outcome reflect biological features and summarize the properties of tumor micro-angioarchitecture. Notably, treatment of KMS-11 xenografts with anti-angiogenic drugs affected position and slope of the specific curves without degrading their near-linear properties. The possibility offered by this procedure to describe and quantify the 3D features of the tumor micro-angioarchitecture paves the way to the analysis of the microvascular tree in human tumor specimens at different stages of tumor progression and after pharmacologic interventions, with possible diagnostic and prognostic implications.
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16
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Abstract
Objective: Gliomas are the most common neoplasm of the central nervous system (CNS); however, traditional imaging techniques do not show the boundaries of tumors well. Some researchers have found a new therapeutic mode to combine nanoparticles, which are nanosized particles with various properties for specific therapeutic purposes, and stem cells for tracing gliomas. This review provides an introduction of the basic understanding and clinical applications of the combination of stem cells and nanoparticles as a contrast agent for glioma imaging. Data Sources: Studies published in English up to and including 2017 were extracted from the PubMed database with the selected key words of “stem cell,” “glioma,” “nanoparticles,” “MRI,” “nuclear imaging,” and “Fluorescence imaging.” Study Selection: The selection of studies focused on both preclinical studies and basic studies of tracking glioma with nanoparticle-labeled stem cells. Results: Studies have demonstrated successful labeling of stem cells with multiple types of nanoparticles. These labeled stem cells efficiently migrated to gliomas of varies models and produced signals sensitively captured by different imaging modalities. Conclusion: The use of nanoparticle-labeled stem cells is a promising imaging platform for the tracking and treatment of gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang-Lin Deng
- Department of Neurosurgical Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Yun-Qian Li
- Department of Neurosurgical Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Gang Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgical Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
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17
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Chen C, He ZC, Shi Y, Zhou W, Zhang X, Xiao HL, Wu HB, Yao XH, Luo WC, Cui YH, Bao S, Kung HF, Bian XW, Ping YF. Microvascular fractal dimension predicts prognosis and response to chemotherapy in glioblastoma: an automatic image analysis study. J Transl Med 2018; 98:924-934. [PMID: 29765109 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-018-0055-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2017] [Revised: 02/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The microvascular profile has been included in the WHO glioma grading criteria. Nevertheless, microvessels in gliomas of the same WHO grade, e.g., WHO IV glioblastoma (GBM), exhibit heterogeneous and polymorphic morphology, whose possible clinical significance remains to be determined. In this study, we employed a fractal geometry-derived parameter, microvascular fractal dimension (mvFD), to quantify microvessel complexity and developed a home-made macro in Image J software to automatically determine mvFD from the microvessel-stained immunohistochemical images of GBM. We found that mvFD effectively quantified the morphological complexity of GBM microvasculature. Furthermore, high mvFD favored the survival of GBM patients as an independent prognostic indicator and predicted a better response to chemotherapy of GBM patients. When investigating the underlying relations between mvFD and tumor growth by deploying Ki67/mvFD as an index for microvasculature-normalized tumor proliferation, we discovered an inverse correlation between mvFD and Ki67/mvFD. Furthermore, mvFD inversely correlated with the expressions of a glycolytic marker, LDHA, which indicated poor prognosis of GBM patients. Conclusively, we developed an automatic approach for mvFD measurement, and demonstrated that mvFD could predict the prognosis and response to chemotherapy of GBM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Chen
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.,Department of Pathology, 474th Hospital of People's Liberation Army, 830013, Urumqi, China
| | - Zhi-Cheng He
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu Shi
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenchao Zhou
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, USA
| | - Xia Zhang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - Hua-Liang Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400042, Chongqing, China
| | - Hai-Bo Wu
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Yao
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - Wan-Chun Luo
- Department of Mathematics, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - You-Hong Cui
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - Shideng Bao
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, USA
| | - Hsiang-Fu Kung
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China. .,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.
| | - Xiu-Wu Bian
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China. .,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.
| | - Yi-Fang Ping
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China. .,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.
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18
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Salehi A, Jullienne A, Wendel KM, Hamer M, Tang J, Zhang JH, Pearce WJ, DeFazio RA, Vexler ZS, Obenaus A. A Novel Technique for Visualizing and Analyzing the Cerebral Vasculature in Rodents. Transl Stroke Res 2018; 10:10.1007/s12975-018-0632-0. [PMID: 29766452 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-018-0632-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We introduce a novel protocol to stain, visualize, and analyze blood vessels from the rat and mouse cerebrum. This technique utilizes the fluorescent dye, DiI, to label the lumen of the vasculature followed by perfusion fixation. Following brain extraction, the labeled vasculature is then imaged using wide-field fluorescence microscopy for axial and coronal images and can be followed by regional confocal microscopy. Axial and coronal images can be analyzed using classical angiographic methods for vessel density, length, and other features. We also have developed a novel fractal analysis to assess vascular complexity. Our protocol has been optimized for adult rat, adult mouse, and neonatal mouse studies. The protocol is efficient, can be rapidly completed, stains cerebral vessels with a bright fluorescence, and provides valuable quantitative data. This method has a broad range of applications, and we demonstrate its use to study the vasculature in assorted models of acquired brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjang Salehi
- Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology Program, University of California, Riverside, 1140 Bachelor Hall, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
| | - Amandine Jullienne
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
| | - Kara M Wendel
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4475, USA
| | - Mary Hamer
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4475, USA
| | - Jiping Tang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - John H Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - William J Pearce
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Richard A DeFazio
- Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48101, USA
| | - Zinaida S Vexler
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Andre Obenaus
- Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology Program, University of California, Riverside, 1140 Bachelor Hall, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA.
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4475, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-4475, USA.
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19
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Czyz M, Radwan H, Li JY, Filippi CG, Tykocki T, Schulder M. Fractal Analysis May Improve the Preoperative Identification of Atypical Meningiomas. Neurosurgery 2018; 80:300-308. [PMID: 28173535 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyw030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is no objective and readily accessible method for the preoperative determination of atypical characteristics of a meningioma grade. Objective To evaluate the feasibility of using fractal analysis as an adjunctive tool to conventional radiological techniques in visualizing histopathological features of meningiomas. Methods A group of 27 patients diagnosed with atypical (WHO grade II) meningioma and a second group of 27 patients with benign (WHO grade I) meningioma were enrolled in the study. Preoperative brain magnetic resonance (MR) studies (T1-wieghted, post-gadolinium) were processed and analyzed to determine the average fractal dimension (FDa) and maximum fractal dimension (FDm) of the contrast-enhancing region of the tumor using box-count method. FDa and FDm as well as particular radiological features were included in the logistic regression model as possible predictors of malignancy. Results The cohort consisted of 34 women and 20 men, mean age of 62 ± 15 yr. Fractal analysis showed good interobserver reproducibility (Kappa >0.70). Both FDa and FDm were significantly higher in the atypical compared to the benign meningioma group (P < .0001). Multivariate logistic regression model reached statistical significance with P = .0001 and AUC = 0.87. The FDm, which was greater than 1.31 (odds ratio [OR], 12.30; P = .039), and nonskull base localization (OR, .052; P = .015) were confirmed to be statistically significant predictors of the atypical phenotype. Conclusion Fractal analysis of preoperative MR images appears to be a feasible adjunctive diagnostic tool in identifying meningiomas with potentially aggressive clinical behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Czyz
- Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Hesham Radwan
- Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Jian Y Li
- Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Michael Schulder
- Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine, Manhasset, New York, USA
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20
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Reishofer G, Studencnik F, Koschutnig K, Deutschmann H, Ahammer H, Wood G. Age is reflected in the Fractal Dimensionality of MRI Diffusion Based Tractography. Sci Rep 2018; 8:5431. [PMID: 29615717 PMCID: PMC5883031 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23769-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Fractal analysis is a widely used tool to analyze the geometrical complexity of biological structures. The geometry of natural objects such as plants, clouds, cellular structures, blood vessel, and many others cannot be described sufficiently with Euclidian geometric properties, but can be represented by a parameter called the fractal dimension. Here we show that a specific estimate of fractal dimension, the correlation dimension, is able to describe changes in the structural complexity of the human brain, based on data from magnetic resonance diffusion imaging. White matter nerve fiber bundles, represented by tractograms, were analyzed with regards to geometrical complexity, using fractal geometry. The well-known age-related change of white matter tissue was used to verify changes by means of fractal dimension. Structural changes in the brain were successfully be observed and quantified by fractal dimension and compared with changes in fractional anisotropy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gernot Reishofer
- Medical University of Graz, Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Graz, Austria.
| | - Fritz Studencnik
- Medical University of Graz, Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Hannes Deutschmann
- Medical University of Graz, Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Graz, Austria
| | - Helmut Ahammer
- Medical University of Graz, Institute of Biophysics, Graz, Austria
| | - Guilherme Wood
- University of Graz, Department of Psychology, Graz, Austria
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21
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Di Ieva A, Le Reste PJ, Carsin-Nicol B, Ferre JC, Cusimano MD. Diagnostic Value of Fractal Analysis for the Differentiation of Brain Tumors Using 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging. Neurosurgery 2017; 79:839-846. [PMID: 27332779 DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000001308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) of brain tumors provides information about neoplastic vasculature and intratumoral micro- and macrobleedings. Low- and high-grade gliomas can be distinguished by SWI due to their different vascular characteristics. Fractal analysis allows for quantification of these radiological differences by a computer-based morphological assessment of SWI patterns. OBJECTIVE To show the feasibility of SWI analysis on 3-T magnetic resonance imaging to distinguish different kinds of brain tumors. METHODS Seventy-eight patients affected by brain tumors of different histopathology (low- and high-grade gliomas, metastases, meningiomas, lymphomas) were included. All patients underwent preoperative 3-T magnetic resonance imaging including SWI, on which the lesions were contoured. The images underwent automated computation, extracting 2 quantitative parameters: the volume fraction of SWI signals within the tumors (signal ratio) and the morphological self-similar features (fractal dimension [FD]). The results were then correlated with each histopathological type of tumor. RESULTS Signal ratio and FD were able to differentiate low-grade gliomas from grade III and IV gliomas, metastases, and meningiomas (P < .05). FD was statistically different between lymphomas and high-grade gliomas (P < .05). A receiver-operating characteristic analysis showed that the optimal cutoff value for differentiating low- from high-grade gliomas was 1.75 for FD (sensitivity, 81%; specificity, 89%) and 0.03 for signal ratio (sensitivity, 80%; specificity, 86%). CONCLUSION FD of SWI on 3-T magnetic resonance imaging is a novel image biomarker for glioma grading and brain tumor characterization. Computational models offer promising results that may improve diagnosis and open perspectives in the radiological assessment of brain tumors. ABBREVIATIONS FD, fractal dimensionSR, signal ratioSWI, susceptibility-weighted imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Di Ieva
- ‡Australian School of Advanced Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Macquarie University Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; §Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; ¶Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Pontchaillou, Rennes, France; ‖Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Pontchaillou, Rennes, France; #Division of Neurosurgery, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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22
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Miranda A, Blanco-Prieto M, Sousa J, Pais A, Vitorino C. Breaching barriers in glioblastoma. Part I: Molecular pathways and novel treatment approaches. Int J Pharm 2017; 531:372-388. [PMID: 28755993 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2017.07.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumour, and the most aggressive in nature. The prognosis for patients with GBM remains poor, with a median survival time of only 1-2 years. The treatment failure relies on the development of resistance by tumour cells and the difficulty of ensuring that drugs effectively cross the dual blood brain barrier/blood brain tumour barrier. The advanced molecular and genetic knowledge has allowed to identify the mechanisms responsible for temozolomide resistance, which represents the standard of care in GBM, along with surgical resection and radiotherapy. Such resistance has motivated the researchers to investigate new avenues for GBM treatment intended to improve patient survival. In this review, we provide an overview of major obstacles to effective treatment of GBM, encompassing biological barriers, cancer stem cells, DNA repair mechanisms, deregulated signalling pathways and autophagy. New insights and potential therapy approaches for GBM are also discussed, emphasizing localized chemotherapy delivered directly to the brain, immunotherapy, gene therapy and nanoparticle-mediated brain drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Miranda
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Portugal; Pharmacometrics Group of the Centre for Neurosciences and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - María Blanco-Prieto
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, University of Navarra, Spain
| | - João Sousa
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Portugal; Pharmacometrics Group of the Centre for Neurosciences and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Alberto Pais
- Coimbra Chemistry Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carla Vitorino
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Portugal; Pharmacometrics Group of the Centre for Neurosciences and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Portugal.
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Zhan K, Bai L, Wu Q, Lei D, Wang G. Fractal characteristics of the microvascular network: A useful index to assess vascularization level of porous silk fibroin biomaterial. J Biomed Mater Res A 2017; 105:2276-2290. [PMID: 28445607 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.36094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Revised: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The neovascularization of biomaterials for tissue engineering is not only related to growth of capillaries but also involves appropriate hierarchy distribution of the microvessels. In this study, we proposed hierarchy distribution contrast method which can assess vascular transport capacity, in order to examine the hierarchy distribution of the neovessels during vascularization of the porous silk fibroin biomaterials implanted into rats and its evolution. The results showed that the fractal characteristics appeared toward the end of the vascularization stages, and the structure of the microvascular network after 3 weeks of implantation was similar to the fractal microvascular tree with bifurcation exponent x = 3 and fractal dimension D = 1.46, which became a sign of maturation of the regenerative vasculature. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2276-2290, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuihua Zhan
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, 178 Gan Jiang East Road, Suzhou, 215006, China.,College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, 178 Gan Jiang East Road, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Lun Bai
- College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, 178 Gan Jiang East Road, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Qinqin Wu
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, 178 Gan Jiang East Road, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Derong Lei
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, 178 Gan Jiang East Road, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Guangqian Wang
- College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, 178 Gan Jiang East Road, Suzhou, 215006, China
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Obenaus A, Ng M, Orantes AM, Kinney-Lang E, Rashid F, Hamer M, DeFazio RA, Tang J, Zhang JH, Pearce WJ. Traumatic brain injury results in acute rarefication of the vascular network. Sci Rep 2017; 7:239. [PMID: 28331228 PMCID: PMC5427893 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00161-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the cerebrovascular network and its acute response to TBI is poorly defined and emerging evidence suggests that cerebrovascular reactivity is altered. We explored how cortical vessels are physically altered following TBI using a newly developed technique, vessel painting. We tested our hypothesis that a focal moderate TBI results in global decrements to structural aspects of the vasculature. Rats (naïve, sham-operated, TBI) underwent a moderate controlled cortical impact. Animals underwent vessel painting perfusion to label the entire cortex at 1 day post TBI followed by whole brain axial and coronal images using a wide-field fluorescence microscope. Cortical vessel network characteristics were analyzed for classical angiographic features (junctions, lengths) wherein we observed significant global (both hemispheres) reductions in vessel junctions and vessel lengths of 33% and 22%, respectively. Biological complexity can be quantified using fractal geometric features where we observed that fractal measures were also reduced significantly by 33%, 16% and 13% for kurtosis, peak value frequency and skewness, respectively. Acutely after TBI there is a reduction in vascular network and vascular complexity that are exacerbated at the lesion site and provide structural evidence for the bilateral hemodynamic alterations that have been reported in patients after TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre Obenaus
- Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA.
| | - Michelle Ng
- Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Amanda M Orantes
- Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Eli Kinney-Lang
- Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Faisal Rashid
- Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Mary Hamer
- Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | | | - Jiping Tang
- Physiology and Pharmacology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - John H Zhang
- Physiology and Pharmacology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA.,Anesthesiology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA.,Neurosurgery, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - William J Pearce
- Physiology and Pharmacology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA.,Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
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25
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Šoštarić-Zuckermann IC, Severin K, Huzak M, Hohšteter M, Gudan Kurilj A, Artuković B, Džaja A, Grabarević Ž. Quantification of morphology of canine circumanal gland tumors: a fractal based study. Eur J Histochem 2016; 60:2609. [PMID: 27349313 PMCID: PMC4933824 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2016.2609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Circumanal gland tumors are very common neoplasms of dogs. Their classification relies on microscopic examination and is further supported by a few immunohistochemical markers that help indicate their prognosis. However, new additional tests would be highly useful. The purpose of this study was to develop such a test using fractal analysis which is increasingly being applied in science, especially in the field of biomedicine. A total of 53 circumanal gland tumors were chosen from our department archives. After a precise histological classification according to the World Health Organization classification, the number of de novo classified samples was as follows: 15 adenomas, 11 epitheliomas, 21 well differentiated carcinomas, 6 poorly differentiated carcinomas. Ten samples of normal circumanal gland were also included as control. All samples were immunohistochemicaly stained with vimentin. All immunohistochemical reactions were photographed at two different magnifications -100X and 400X- and converted to 1 bit in black and white (bitmap) images, thus enhancing the positive vimentin reactions. These images were used for the assessment of fractal dimension applying the box counting method and computer software Fractalyse. To determine the significance of results, conventional statistics were performed using Statistica software. The overall vimentin stain score was significantly higher in epitheliomas and carcinomas than in normal circumanal glands (CG) or adenomas. Mean values of fractal dimension estimated at magnification 100X and 400X were as follows: normal CG 1.318 and 1.372, CG adenomas 1.384 and 1.408, CG epitheliomas 1.547 and 1.597, CG well differentiated carcinomas 1.569 and 1.607, CG poorly differentiated carcinomas 1.679 and 1.723. Significant differences (at level of 5%) of these values were observed between individual groups of CG adenomas or normal CG, and epitheliomas or carcinomas. The above results indicate vimentin immunohistochemistry staining and assessment of fractal dimension as an ancillary diagnostic method of choice when discerning between benign and malignant tumors of circumanal glands. Additional development of the method of fractal dimension assessment may yield a possibility for this tool to successfully discern between all of the types of CG tumors.
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Hendricks BK, Cohen-Gadol AA, Miller JC. Novel delivery methods bypassing the blood-brain and blood-tumor barriers. Neurosurg Focus 2015; 38:E10. [PMID: 25727219 DOI: 10.3171/2015.1.focus14767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor and carries a grave prognosis. Despite years of research investigating potentially new therapies for GBM, the median survival rate of individuals with this disease has remained fairly stagnant. Delivery of drugs to the tumor site is hampered by various barriers posed by the GBM pathological process and by the complex physiology of the blood-brain and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barriers. These anatomical and physiological barriers serve as a natural protection for the brain and preserve brain homeostasis, but they also have significantly limited the reach of intraparenchymal treatments in patients with GBM. In this article, the authors review the functional capabilities of the physical and physiological barriers that impede chemotherapy for GBM, with a specific focus on the pathological alterations of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in this disease. They also provide an overview of current and future methods for circumventing these barriers in therapeutic interventions. Although ongoing research has yielded some potential options for future GBM therapies, delivery of chemotherapy medications across the BBB remains elusive and has limited the efficacy of these medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin K Hendricks
- Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University Department of Neurological Surgery; and
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27
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Lennon FE, Cianci GC, Cipriani NA, Hensing TA, Zhang HJ, Chen CT, Murgu SD, Vokes EE, Vannier MW, Salgia R. Lung cancer-a fractal viewpoint. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2015; 12:664-75. [PMID: 26169924 DOI: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2015.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fractals are mathematical constructs that show self-similarity over a range of scales and non-integer (fractal) dimensions. Owing to these properties, fractal geometry can be used to efficiently estimate the geometrical complexity, and the irregularity of shapes and patterns observed in lung tumour growth (over space or time), whereas the use of traditional Euclidean geometry in such calculations is more challenging. The application of fractal analysis in biomedical imaging and time series has shown considerable promise for measuring processes as varied as heart and respiratory rates, neuronal cell characterization, and vascular development. Despite the advantages of fractal mathematics and numerous studies demonstrating its applicability to lung cancer research, many researchers and clinicians remain unaware of its potential. Therefore, this Review aims to introduce the fundamental basis of fractals and to illustrate how analysis of fractal dimension (FD) and associated measurements, such as lacunarity (texture) can be performed. We describe the fractal nature of the lung and explain why this organ is particularly suited to fractal analysis. Studies that have used fractal analyses to quantify changes in nuclear and chromatin FD in primary and metastatic tumour cells, and clinical imaging studies that correlated changes in the FD of tumours on CT and/or PET images with tumour growth and treatment responses are reviewed. Moreover, the potential use of these techniques in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of lung cancer are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances E Lennon
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 2115 Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Gianguido C Cianci
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Nicole A Cipriani
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 2115 Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Thomas A Hensing
- NorthShore University Health System, 2650 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
| | - Hannah J Zhang
- Department of Radiology, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 2115 Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Chin-Tu Chen
- Department of Radiology, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 2115 Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Septimiu D Murgu
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 2115 Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Everett E Vokes
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 2115 Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Michael W Vannier
- Department of Radiology, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 2115 Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 2115 Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Willaime JMY, Aboagye EO, Tsoumpas C, Turkheimer FE. A multifractal approach to space-filling recovery for PET quantification. Med Phys 2014; 41:112505. [DOI: 10.1118/1.4898122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
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Vartanian A, Singh SK, Agnihotri S, Jalali S, Burrell K, Aldape KD, Zadeh G. GBM's multifaceted landscape: highlighting regional and microenvironmental heterogeneity. Neuro Oncol 2014; 16:1167-75. [PMID: 24642524 PMCID: PMC4136895 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nou035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2013] [Accepted: 02/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Gliomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors that show variable proliferative potential, invasiveness, aggressiveness, histological grading, and clinical behavior. In this review, we focus on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a grade IV glioma, which is the most common and malignant of primary adult brain tumors. Research over the past several decades has revealed the existence of extensive cellular, molecular, genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic heterogeneity among tumors of the same grade and even within individual tumors. Evaluation of different tumor types has shown that tumors with advanced grade and clinical aggressiveness also display enhanced molecular, cellular, and microenvironmental heterogeneity. From a therapeutic standpoint, this heterogeneity is a major clinical hurdle for devising effective therapeutic strategies for patients and challenges personalized medicine. In this review, we will highlight key aspects of GBM heterogeneity, directing special attention to regional heterogeneity, hypoxia, genomic heterogeneity, tumor-specific metabolic reprogramming, neovascularization or angiogenesis, and stromal immune cells. We will further discuss the clinical implications of GBM heterogeneity in the context of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alenoush Vartanian
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.V., S.K.S., S.A., S.J., K.B., G.Z.); Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (G.Z.); Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (K.D.A.)
| | - Sanjay K Singh
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.V., S.K.S., S.A., S.J., K.B., G.Z.); Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (G.Z.); Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (K.D.A.)
| | - Sameer Agnihotri
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.V., S.K.S., S.A., S.J., K.B., G.Z.); Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (G.Z.); Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (K.D.A.)
| | - Shahrzad Jalali
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.V., S.K.S., S.A., S.J., K.B., G.Z.); Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (G.Z.); Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (K.D.A.)
| | - Kelly Burrell
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.V., S.K.S., S.A., S.J., K.B., G.Z.); Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (G.Z.); Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (K.D.A.)
| | - Kenneth D Aldape
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.V., S.K.S., S.A., S.J., K.B., G.Z.); Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (G.Z.); Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (K.D.A.)
| | - Gelareh Zadeh
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.V., S.K.S., S.A., S.J., K.B., G.Z.); Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (G.Z.); Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (K.D.A.)
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Di Ieva A, Weckman A, Di Michele J, Rotondo F, Grizzi F, Kovacs K, Cusimano MD. Microvascular morphometrics of the hypophysis and pituitary tumors: from bench to operating theatre. Microvasc Res 2013; 89:7-14. [PMID: 23651686 DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2013.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2013] [Revised: 04/21/2013] [Accepted: 04/28/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The idea that microvasculature might be a histopathological biomarker in the prognosis and treatment of tumors is garnering even more attention in the scientific community. The roles of neovascularity in tumor progression and metastasis, have become a hot-topic of investigation in cancer research. A number of methods of quantitatively analyzing pituitary adenoma microvasculature have been applied, and fractal analysis is emerging as a potential effective model for this aim. Additionally, new and more specific immunological techniques have been developed for the detection of microvessels. CD105 (Endoglin) has been proposed as a valuable antigen that marks only newly formed vessels, rather than the entire tumor microvascular system. The combination of different types of immunostaining techniques for the detection of microvessels in pituitary adenomas with fractal analysis as an objective and computer-aided technique to quantify and describe morphological aspects of microvessels has potential implications in future clinical and surgical applications. Tumor treatments, such as anti-angiogenic therapy, as well as intraoperative tools, stand to be enhanced by increasing advances in microvascular research. We here review the methods used for the quantitative analysis of microvessels of the pituitary in its physiopathological states, with the aim to show the pituitary adenoma as a model for the study of neoplastic angioarchitecture and the importance of the introduction of new techniques for the study of angiogenesis, with the relative scientific, medical and surgical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Di Ieva
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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31
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Di Ieva A, Göd S, Grabner G, Grizzi F, Sherif C, Matula C, Tschabitscher M, Trattnig S. Three-dimensional susceptibility-weighted imaging at 7 T using fractal-based quantitative analysis to grade gliomas. Neuroradiology 2012; 55:35-40. [PMID: 22903580 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-012-1081-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2012] [Accepted: 07/27/2012] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) with high- and ultra-high-field magnetic resonance is a very helpful tool for evaluating brain gliomas and intratumoral structures, including microvasculature. Here, we test whether objective quantification of intratumoral SWI patterns by applying fractal analysis can offer reliable indexes capable of differentiating glial tumor grades. METHODS Thirty-six patients affected by brain gliomas (grades II-IV, according to the WHO classification system) underwent MRI at 7 T using a SWI protocol. All images were collected and analyzed by applying a computer-aided fractal image analysis, which applies the fractal dimension as a measure of geometrical complexity of intratumoral SWI patterns. The results were subsequently statistically correlated to the histopathological tumor grade. RESULTS The mean value of the fractal dimension of the intratumoral SWI patterns was 2.086 ± 0.413. We found a trend of higher fractal dimension values in groups of higher histologic grade. The values ranged from a mean value of 1.682 ± 0.278 for grade II gliomas to 2.247 ± 0.358 for grade IV gliomas (p = 0.013); there was an overall statistically significant difference between histopathological groups. CONCLUSION The present study confirms that SWI at 7 T is a useful method for detecting intratumoral vascular architecture of brain gliomas and that SWI pattern quantification by means of fractal dimension offers a potential objective morphometric image biomarker of tumor grade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Di Ieva
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Systematic Anatomy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Silva DA, Basso GG, Semenzim VL, Godoy MF, Taboga SR, Andrade AL, Luvizotto MCR, Braile DM, Nery JG. Fractal dimension and Shannon's entropy analyses of the architectural complexity caused by the inflammatory reactions induced by highly crystalline poly(vinyl alcohol) microspheres implanted in subcutaneous tissues of the Wistar rats. J Biomed Mater Res A 2012; 101:326-39. [PMID: 22829297 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.34334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2012] [Revised: 06/10/2012] [Accepted: 06/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The results of the histopathological analyses after the implantation of highly crystalline PVA microspheres in subcutaneous tissues of Wistar rats are here in reported. Three different groups of PVA microparticles were systematically studied: highly crystalline, amorphous, and commercial ones. In addition to these experiments, complementary analyses of architectural complexity were performed using fractal dimension (FD), and Shannon's entropy (SE) concepts. The highly crystalline microspheres induced inflammatory reactions similar to the ones observed for the commercial ones, while the inflammatory reactions caused by the amorphous ones were less intense. Statistical analyses of the subcutaneous tissues of Wistar rats implanted with the highly crystalline microspheres resulted in FD and SE values significantly higher than the statistical parameters observed for the amorphous ones. The FD and SE parameters obtained for the subcutaneous tissues of Wistar rats implanted with crystalline and commercial microparticles were statistically similar. Briefly, the results indicated that the new highly crystalline microspheres had biocompatible behavior comparable to the commercial ones. In addition, statistical tools such as FD and SE analyses when combined with histopathological analyses can be useful tools to investigate the architectural complexity tissues caused by complex inflammatory reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo A Silva
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto - São Paulo 15054-000, Brazil
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Lang S, Müller B, Dominietto MD, Cattin PC, Zanette I, Weitkamp T, Hieber SE. Three-dimensional quantification of capillary networks in healthy and cancerous tissues of two mice. Microvasc Res 2012; 84:314-22. [PMID: 22796313 DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2012.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2011] [Revised: 07/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A key issue in developing strategies against diseases such as cancer is the analysis of the vessel tree in comparison to the healthy one. In the search for parameters that might be characteristic for tumor capillaries we study the vascularization in mice for cancerous and healthy tissues using synchrotron radiation-based micro computed tomography in absorption and phase contrast modes. Our investigations are based on absorption tomograms of casted healthy and cancerous tissues as well as a phase tomogram of a fixated tumor. We demonstrate how the voxel-based tomography data can be vectorized to assess the capillary networks quantitatively. The processing includes segmentation, skeletonization, and vectorization to finally extract the vessel parameters. The mean diameter of capillaries in healthy and cancerous tissues corresponds to (8.0±1.1) μm and (3.9±1.1) μm, respectively. Further evaluated parameters show marginal or no differences between capillaries in healthy and cancerous tissues, namely fractal dimension 2.3±0.3 vs. 2.3±0.2, tortuosity (SOAM) 0.18 rad/μm vs. 0.24 rad/μm and vessel length 20 μm vs. 17 μm. The bifurcation angles exhibit a narrow distribution around 115°. Furthermore, we show that phase tomography is a powerful alternative to absorption tomography of casts for the vessel visualization omitting any invasive specimen preparation procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Lang
- Biomaterials Science Center, University of Basel, c/o University Hospital, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
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Yu E, Monaco JP, Tomaszewski J, Shih N, Feldman M, Madabhushi A. Detection of prostate cancer on histopathology using color fractals and Probabilistic Pairwise Markov models. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2012; 2011:3427-30. [PMID: 22255076 DOI: 10.1109/iembs.2011.6090927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In this paper we present a system for detecting regions of carcinoma of the prostate (CaP) in H&E stained radical prostatectomy specimens using the color fractal dimension. Color textural information is known to be a valuable characteristic to distinguish CaP from benign tissue. In addition to color information, we know that cancer tends to form contiguous regions. Our system leverages the color staining information of histology as well as spatial dependencies. The color and textural information is first captured using color fractal dimension. To incorporate spatial dependencies, we combine the probability map constructed via color fractal dimension with a novel Markov prior called the Probabilistic Pairwise Markov Model (PPMM). To demonstrate the capability of this CaP detection system, we applied the algorithm to 27 radical prostatectomy specimens from 10 patients. A per pixel evaluation was conducted with ground truth provided by an expert pathologist using only the color fractal feature first, yielding an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) curve of 0.790. In conjunction with a Markov prior, the resultant color fractal dimension + Markov random field (MRF) classifier yielded an AUC of 0.831.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Yu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, USA
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Computer-assisted and fractal-based morphometric assessment of microvascularity in histological specimens of gliomas. Sci Rep 2012; 2:429. [PMID: 22645645 PMCID: PMC3361706 DOI: 10.1038/srep00429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2012] [Accepted: 04/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fractal analysis is widely applied to investigate the vascular system in physiological as well as pathological states. We propose and examine a computer-aided and fractal-based image analysis technique to quantify the microvascularity in histological specimens of WHO grade II and III gliomas. A computer-aided and fractal-based analysis was used to describe the microvessels and to quantify their geometrical complexity in histological specimens collected from 17 patients. The statistical analysis showed that the fractal-based indexes are the most discriminant parameters to describe the microvessels. The computer-aided quantitative analysis also showed that grade III gliomas are generally more vascularized than grade II gliomas. The fractal parameters are reliable quantitative indicators of the neoplastic microvasculature, making them potential surrogate biomarkers. The qualitative evaluation currently performed by the neuropathologist can be combined with the computer-assisted quantitative analysis of the microvascularity to improve the diagnosis and optimize the treatment of patients with brain cancer.
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Di Ieva A, Matula C, Grizzi F, Grabner G, Trattnig S, Tschabitscher M. Fractal Analysis of the Susceptibility Weighted Imaging Patterns in Malignant Brain Tumors During Antiangiogenic Treatment: Technical Report on Four Cases Serially Imaged by 7 T Magnetic Resonance During a Period of Four Weeks. World Neurosurg 2012; 77:785.e11-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2011.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2011] [Revised: 06/18/2011] [Accepted: 09/02/2011] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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37
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Glioblastoma angiogenesis: VEGF resistance solutions and new strategies based on molecular mechanisms of tumor vessel formation. Brain Tumor Pathol 2012; 29:73-86. [DOI: 10.1007/s10014-011-0077-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2011] [Accepted: 12/09/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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38
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Losa GA, Di Ieva A, Grizzi F, De Vico G. On the fractal nature of nervous cell system. Front Neuroanat 2011; 5:45. [PMID: 21811443 PMCID: PMC3143723 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2011.00045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2011] [Accepted: 07/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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