Prognostic and Predictive Value of Integrated Qualitative and Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis in Glioblastoma

Ten Years of VASARI Glioma Features: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Their Impact and Performance

BACKGROUND

Visually Accessible Rembrandt (Repository for Molecular Brain Neoplasia Data) Images (VASARI) features, a vocabulary to establish reproducible terminology for glioma reporting, have been applied for a decade, but a systematic performance evaluation is lacking.

PURPOSE

Our aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the performance of the VASARI features set for glioma assessment.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched until September 26, 2023.

STUDY SELECTION

Original articles predicting diagnosis, progression, and survival in patients with glioma were included.

DATA ANALYSIS

The modified Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool was applied to evaluate the risk-of-bias. The meta-analysis used a random effects model and forest plot visualizations, if ≥5 comparable studies with a low or medium risk of bias were provided.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Thirty-five studies (3304 patients) were included. Risk-of-bias scores were medium (n = 33) and low (n = 2). Recurring objectives were overall survival (n = 18) and isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation (IDH; n = 12) prediction. Progression-free survival was examined in 7 studies. In 4 studies (glioblastoma n = 2, grade 2/3 glioma n = 1, grade 3 glioma n = 1), a significant association was found between progression-free survival and single VASARI features. The single features predicting overall survival with the highest pooled hazard ratios were multifocality (hazard ratio = 1.80; 95%-CI, 1.21-2.67; I2 = 53%), ependymal invasion (hazard ratio = 1.73; 95% CI, 1.45-2.05; I2 = 0%), and enhancing tumor crossing the midline (hazard ratio = 2.08; 95% CI, 1.35-3.18; I2 = 52%). IDH mutation-predicting models combining VASARI features rendered a pooled area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.76-0.88) at considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 100%). Combined input models using VASARI plus clinical and/or radiomics features outperformed single data-type models in all relevant studies (n = 17).

LIMITATIONS

Studies were heterogeneously designed and often with a small sample size. Several studies used The Cancer Imaging Archive database, with likely overlapping cohorts. The meta-analysis for IDH was limited due to a high study heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS

Some VASARI features perform well in predicting overall survival and IDH mutation status, but combined models outperform single features. More studies with less heterogeneity are needed to increase the evidence level.

Tumour Size and Overall Survival in a Cohort of Patients with Unifocal Glioblastoma: A Uni- and Multivariable Prognostic Modelling and Resampling Study

Published models inconsistently associate glioblastoma size with overall survival (OS). This study aimed to investigate the prognostic effect of tumour size in a large cohort of patients diagnosed with GBM and interrogate how sample size and non-linear transformations may impact on the likelihood of finding a prognostic effect. In total, 279 patients with a IDH-wildtype unifocal WHO grade 4 GBM between 2014 and 2020 from a retrospective cohort were included. Uni-/multivariable association between core volume, whole volume (CV and WV), and diameter with OS was assessed with (1) Cox proportional hazard models +/- log transformation and (2) resampling with 1,000,000 repetitions and varying sample size to identify the percentage of models, which showed a significant effect of tumour size. Models adjusted for operation type and a diameter model adjusted for all clinical variables remained significant (p = 0.03). Multivariable resampling increased the significant effects (p < 0.05) of all size variables as sample size increased. Log transformation also had a large effect on the chances of a prognostic effect of WV. For models adjusted for operation type, 19.5% of WV vs. 26.3% log-WV (n = 50) and 69.9% WV and 89.9% log-WV (n = 279) were significant. In this large well-curated cohort, multivariable modelling and resampling suggest tumour volume is prognostic at larger sample sizes and with log transformation for WV.

Added prognostic value of 3D deep learning-derived features from preoperative MRI for adult-type diffuse gliomas

BACKGROUND

To investigate the prognostic value of spatial features from whole-brain MRI using a three-dimensional (3D) convolutional neural network for adult-type diffuse gliomas.

METHODS

In a retrospective, multicenter study, 1925 diffuse glioma patients were enrolled from 5 datasets: SNUH (n = 708), UPenn (n = 425), UCSF (n = 500), TCGA (n = 160), and Severance (n = 132). The SNUH and Severance datasets served as external test sets. Precontrast and postcontrast 3D T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and T2-FLAIR images were processed as multichannel 3D images. A 3D-adapted SE-ResNeXt model was trained to predict overall survival. The prognostic value of the deep learning-based prognostic index (DPI), a spatial feature-derived quantitative score, and established prognostic markers were evaluated using Cox regression. Model evaluation was performed using the concordance index (C-index) and Brier score.

RESULTS

The MRI-only median DPI survival prediction model achieved C-indices of 0.709 and 0.677 (BS = 0.142 and 0.215) and survival differences (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002; log-rank test) for the SNUH and Severance datasets, respectively. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed DPI as a significant prognostic factor, independent of clinical and molecular genetic variables: hazard ratio = 0.032 and 0.036 (P < 0.001 and P = 0.004) for the SNUH and Severance datasets, respectively. Multimodal prediction models achieved higher C-indices than models using only clinical and molecular genetic variables: 0.783 vs. 0.774, P = 0.001, SNUH; 0.766 vs. 0.748, P = 0.023, Severance.

CONCLUSIONS

The global morphologic feature derived from 3D CNN models using whole-brain MRI has independent prognostic value for diffuse gliomas. Combining clinical, molecular genetic, and imaging data yields the best performance.

Quality assessment of the MRI-radiomics studies for MGMT promoter methylation prediction in glioma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the methodological quality and diagnostic accuracy of MRI-based radiomic studies predicting O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status in gliomas.

METHODS

PubMed Medline, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched to identify MRI-based radiomic studies on MGMT methylation in gliomas published until December 31, 2022. Three raters evaluated the study methodological quality with Radiomics Quality Score (RQS, 16 components) and Transparent Reporting of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Individual Prognosis Or Diagnosis (TRIPOD, 22 items) scales. Risk of bias and applicability concerns were assessed with QUADAS-2 tool. A meta-analysis was performed to estimate the pooled area under the curve (AUC) and to assess inter-study heterogeneity.

RESULTS

We included 26 studies, published from 2016. The median RQS total score was 8 out of 36 (22%, range 8-44%). Thirteen studies performed external validation. All studies reported AUC or accuracy, but only 4 (15%) performed calibration and decision curve analysis. No studies performed phantom analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and prospective validation. The overall TRIPOD adherence score was between 50% and 70% in 16 studies and below 50% in 10 studies. The pooled AUC was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.73-0.83, I2 = 94.1%) with a high inter-study heterogeneity. Studies with external validation and including only WHO-grade IV gliomas had significantly lower AUC values (0.65; 95% CI, 0.57-0.73, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Study RQS and adherence to TRIPOD guidelines was generally low. Radiomic prediction of MGMT methylation status showed great heterogeneity of results and lower performances in grade IV gliomas, which hinders its current implementation in clinical practice.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

MGMT promoter methylation status appears to be variably correlated with MRI radiomic features; radiomic models are not sufficiently robust to be integrated into clinical practice to accurately predict MGMT promoter methylation status in patients with glioma before surgery.

KEY POINTS

• Adherence to the indications of TRIPOD guidelines was generally low, as was RQS total score. • MGMT promoter methylation status prediction with MRI radiomic features provided heterogeneous diagnostic accuracy results across studies. • Studies that included grade IV glioma only and performed external validation had significantly lower diagnostic accuracy than others.

AI-driven estimation of O6 methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation in glioblastoma patients: a systematic review with bias analysis

BACKGROUND

Accurate and non-invasive estimation of MGMT promoter methylation status in glioblastoma (GBM) patients is of paramount clinical importance, as it is a predictive biomarker associated with improved overall survival (OS). In response to the clinical need, recent studies have focused on the development of non-invasive artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods for MGMT estimation. In this systematic review, we not only delve into the technical aspects of these AI-driven MGMT estimation methods but also emphasize their profound clinical implications. Specifically, we explore the potential impact of accurate non-invasive MGMT estimation on GBM patient care and treatment decisions.

METHODS

Employing a PRISMA search strategy, we identified 33 relevant studies from reputable databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and IEEE Explore. These studies were comprehensively assessed using 21 diverse attributes, encompassing factors such as types of imaging modalities, machine learning (ML) methods, and cohort sizes, with clear rationales for attribute scoring. Subsequently, we ranked these studies and established a cutoff value to categorize them into low-bias and high-bias groups.

RESULTS

By analyzing the 'cumulative plot of mean score' and the 'frequency plot curve' of the studies, we determined a cutoff value of 6.00. A higher mean score indicated a lower risk of bias, with studies scoring above the cutoff mark categorized as low-bias (73%), while 27% fell into the high-bias category.

CONCLUSION

Our findings underscore the immense potential of AI-based machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) methods in non-invasively determining MGMT promoter methylation status. Importantly, the clinical significance of these AI-driven advancements lies in their capacity to transform GBM patient care by providing accurate and timely information for treatment decisions. However, the translation of these technical advancements into clinical practice presents challenges, including the need for large multi-institutional cohorts and the integration of diverse data types. Addressing these challenges will be critical in realizing the full potential of AI in improving the reliability and accessibility of MGMT estimation while lowering the risk of bias in clinical decision-making.

Accuracy of Radiomics in Predicting IDH Mutation Status in Diffuse Gliomas: A Bivariate Meta-Analysis

Purpose To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the predictive accuracy of radiomics in the noninvasive determination of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) status in grade 4 and lower-grade diffuse gliomas. Materials and Methods A systematic search was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases for relevant articles published between January 1, 2010, and July 7, 2021. Pooled sensitivity and specificity across studies were estimated. Risk of bias was evaluated using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2, and methods were evaluated using the radiomics quality score (RQS). Additional subgroup analyses were performed according to tumor grade, RQS, and number of sequences used (PROSPERO ID: CRD42021268958). Results Twenty-six studies that included 3280 patients were included for analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of radiomics for the detection of IDH mutation were 79% (95% CI: 76, 83) and 80% (95% CI: 76, 83), respectively. Low RQS scores were found overall for the included works. Subgroup analyses showed lower false-positive rates in very low RQS studies (RQS < 6) (meta-regression, z = -1.9; P = .02) compared with adequate RQS studies. No substantial differences were found in pooled sensitivity and specificity for the pure grade 4 gliomas group compared with the all-grade gliomas group (81% and 86% vs 79% and 79%, respectively) and for studies using single versus multiple sequences (80% and 77% vs 79% and 82%, respectively). Conclusion The pooled data showed that radiomics achieved good accuracy performance in distinguishing IDH mutation status in patients with grade 4 and lower-grade diffuse gliomas. The overall methodologic quality (RQS) was low and introduced potential bias. Keywords: Neuro-Oncology, Radiomics, Integration, Application Domain, Glioblastoma, IDH Mutation, Radiomics Quality Scoring Supplemental material is available for this article. Published under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Development of A Radiomic Model for MGMT Promoter Methylation Detection in Glioblastoma Using Conventional MRI

The methylation of the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter is a molecular marker associated with a better response to chemotherapy in patients with glioblastoma (GB). Standard pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis is not adequate to detect MGMT promoter methylation. This study aims to evaluate whether the radiomic features extracted from multiple tumor subregions using multiparametric MRI can predict MGMT promoter methylation status in GB patients. This retrospective single-institution study included a cohort of 277 GB patients whose 3D post-contrast T1-weighted images and 3D fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images were acquired using two MRI scanners. Three separate regions of interest (ROIs) showing tumor enhancement, necrosis, and FLAIR hyperintensities were manually segmented for each patient. Two machine learning algorithms (support vector machine (SVM) and random forest) were built for MGMT promoter methylation prediction from a training cohort (196 patients) and tested on a separate validation cohort (81 patients), based on a set of automatically selected radiomic features, with and without demographic variables (i.e., patients' age and sex). In the training set, SVM based on the selected radiomic features of the three separate ROIs achieved the best performances, with an average of 83.0% (standard deviation: 5.7%) for accuracy and 0.894 (0.056) for the area under the curve (AUC) computed through cross-validation. In the test set, all classification performances dropped: the best was obtained by SVM based on the selected features extracted from the whole tumor lesion constructed by merging the three ROIs, with 64.2% (95% confidence interval: 52.8-74.6%) accuracy and 0.572 (0.439-0.705) for AUC. The performances did not change when the patients' age and sex were included with the radiomic features into the models. Our study confirms the presence of a subtle association between imaging characteristics and MGMT promoter methylation status. However, further verification of the strength of this association is needed, as the low diagnostic performance obtained in this validation cohort is not sufficiently robust to allow clinically meaningful predictions.

Pretreatment MR-based radiomics in patients with glioblastoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prognostic endpoints

PURPOSE

Recent studies have shown promise of MR-based radiomics in predicting the survival of patients with untreated glioblastoma. This study aimed to comprehensively collate evidence to assess the prognostic value of radiomics in glioblastoma.

METHODS

PubMed-MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science were searched to find original articles investigating the prognostic value of MR-based radiomics in glioblastoma published up to July 14, 2023. Concordance indexes (C-indexes) and Cox proportional hazards ratios (HRs) of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were pooled via random-effects modeling. For studies aimed at classifying long-term and short-term PFS, a hierarchical regression model was used to calculate pooled sensitivity and specificity. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using the Higgin inconsistency index (I2). Subgroup regression analysis was performed to find potential factors contributing to heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed via funnel plots and the Egger test.

RESULTS

Among 1371 abstracts, 18 and 17 studies were included for qualitative and quantitative data synthesis, respectively. Respective pooled C-indexes and HRs for OS were 0.65 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.58-0.72) and 2.88 (95 % CI, 2.28-3.64), whereas those for PFS were 0.61 (95 % CI, 0.55-0.66) and 2.78 (95 % CI, 1.91-4.03). Among 4 studies that predicted short-term PFS, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.77 (95 % CI, 0.58-0.89) and 0.60 (95 % CI, 0.45-0.73), respectively. There was a substantial between-study heterogeneity among studies with the survival endpoint of OS C-index (n = 9, I2 = 83.8 %). Publication bias was not observed overall.

CONCLUSION

Pretreatment MR-based radiomics provided modest prognostic value in both OS and PFS in patients with glioblastoma.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI radiomics model predicts epidermal growth factor receptor amplification in glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype

PURPOSE

To develop and validate a dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI-based radiomics model to predict epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) amplification in patients with glioblastoma, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wildtype.

METHODS

Patients with pathologically confirmed glioblastoma, IDH wildtype, from January 2015 to December 2020, with an EGFR amplification status, were included. Patients who did not undergo DCE or conventional brain MRI were excluded. Patients were categorized into training and test sets by a ratio of 7:3. DCE MRI data were used to generate volume transfer constant (Ktrans) and extracellular volume fraction (Ve) maps. Ktrans, Ve, and conventional MRI were then used to extract the radiomics features, from which the prediction models for EGFR amplification status were developed and validated.

RESULTS

A total of 190 patients (mean age, 59.9; male, 55.3%), divided into training (n = 133) and test (n = 57) sets, were enrolled. In the test set, the radiomics model using the Ktrans map exhibited the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-0.95). The AUROC for the Ve map-based and conventional MRI-based models were 0.74 (95% CI, 0.58-0.90) and 0.76 (95% CI, 0.61-0.91).

CONCLUSION

The DCE MRI-based radiomics model that predicts EGFR amplification in glioblastoma, IDH wildtype, was developed and validated. The MRI-based radiomics model using the Ktrans map has higher AUROC than conventional MRI.

Radiogenomics: a key component of precision cancer medicine

Radiogenomics, focusing on the relationship between genomics and imaging phenotypes, has been widely applied to address tumour heterogeneity and predict immune responsiveness and progression. It is an inevitable consequence of current trends in precision medicine, as radiogenomics costs less than traditional genetic sequencing and provides access to whole-tumour information rather than limited biopsy specimens. By providing voxel-by-voxel genetic information, radiogenomics can allow tailored therapy targeting a complete, heterogeneous tumour or set of tumours. In addition to quantifying lesion characteristics, radiogenomics can also be used to distinguish benign from malignant entities, as well as patient characteristics, to better stratify patients according to disease risk, thereby enabling more precise imaging and screening. Here, we have characterised the radiogenomic application in precision medicine using a multi-omic approach. we outline the main applications of radiogenomics in diagnosis, treatment planning and evaluations in the field of oncology with the aim of developing quantitative and personalised medicine. Finally, we discuss the challenges in the field of radiogenomics and the scope and clinical applicability of these methods.

Radiomics and Machine Learning in Brain Tumors and Their Habitat: A Systematic Review

Radiomics is a rapidly evolving field that involves extracting and analysing quantitative features from medical images, such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance images. Radiomics has shown promise in brain tumor diagnosis and patient-prognosis prediction by providing more detailed and objective information about tumors' features than can be obtained from the visual inspection of the images alone. Radiomics data can be analyzed to determine their correlation with a tumor's genetic status and grade, as well as in the assessment of its recurrence vs. therapeutic response, among other features. In consideration of the multi-parametric and high-dimensional space of features extracted by radiomics, machine learning can further improve tumor diagnosis, treatment response, and patients' prognoses. There is a growing recognition that tumors and their microenvironments (habitats) mutually influence each other-tumor cells can alter the microenvironment to increase their growth and survival. At the same time, habitats can also influence the behavior of tumor cells. In this systematic review, we investigate the current limitations and future developments in radiomics and machine learning in analysing brain tumors and their habitats.

Bibliometric research on the developments of artificial intelligence in radiomics toward nervous system diseases

Background

The growing interest suggests that the widespread application of radiomics has facilitated the development of neurological disease diagnosis, prognosis, and classification. The application of artificial intelligence methods in radiomics has increasingly achieved outstanding prediction results in recent years. However, there are few studies that have systematically analyzed this field through bibliometrics. Our destination is to study the visual relationships of publications to identify the trends and hotspots in radiomics research and encourage more researchers to participate in radiomics studies.

Methods

Publications in radiomics in the field of neurological disease research can be retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Analysis of relevant countries, institutions, journals, authors, keywords, and references is conducted using Microsoft Excel 2019, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace V. We analyze the research status and hot trends through burst detection.

Results

On October 23, 2022, 746 records of studies on the application of radiomics in the diagnosis of neurological disorders were retrieved and published from 2011 to 2023. Approximately half of them were written by scholars in the United States, and most were published in Frontiers in Oncology, European Radiology, Cancer, and SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. Although China ranks first in the number of publications, the United States is the driving force in the field and enjoys a good academic reputation. NORBERT GALLDIKS and JIE TIAN published the most relevant articles, while GILLIES RJ was cited the most. RADIOLOGY is a representative and influential journal in the field. "Glioma" is a current attractive research hotspot. Keywords such as "machine learning," "brain metastasis," and "gene mutations" have recently appeared at the research frontier.

Conclusion

Most of the studies focus on clinical trial outcomes, such as the diagnosis, prediction, and prognosis of neurological disorders. The radiomics biomarkers and multi-omics studies of neurological disorders may soon become a hot topic and should be closely monitored, particularly the relationship between tumor-related non-invasive imaging biomarkers and the intrinsic micro-environment of tumors.

Noninvasive Evaluation of the Notch Signaling Pathway via Radiomic Signatures Based on Multiparametric MRI in Association With Biological Functions of Patients With Glioma: A Multi-institutional Study

BACKGROUND

Noninvasive determination of Notch signaling is important for prognostic evaluation and therapeutic intervention in glioma.

PURPOSE

To predict Notch signaling using multiparametric (mp) MRI radiomics and correlate with biological characteristics in gliomas.

STUDY TYPE

Retrospective.

POPULATION

A total of 63 patients for model construction and 47 patients from two public databases for external testing.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE

A 1.5 T and 3.0 T, T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), T2WI, T2 fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), contrast-enhanced (CE)-T1WI.

ASSESSMENT

Radiomic features were extracted from CE-T1WI, T1WI, T2WI, and T2FLAIR and imaging signatures were selected using a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. Diagnostic performance was compared between single modality and a combined mpMRI radiomics model. A radiomic-clinical nomogram was constructed incorporating the mpMRI radiomic signature and Karnofsky Performance score. The performance was validated in the test set. The radiomic signatures were correlated with immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of downstream Notch pathway components.

STATISTICAL TESTS

Receiver operating characteristic curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), Pearson correlation, and Hosmer-Lemeshow test. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The radiomic signature derived from the combination of all sequences numerically showed highest area under the curve (AUC) in both training and external test sets (AUCs of 0.857 and 0.823). The radiomics nomogram that incorporated the mpMRI radiomic signature and KPS status resulted in AUCs of 0.891 and 0.859 in the training and test sets. The calibration curves showed good agreement between prediction and observation in both sets (P= 0.279 and 0.170, respectively). DCA confirmed the clinical usefulness of the nomogram. IHC identified Notch pathway inactivation and the expression levels of Hes1 correlated with higher combined radiomic scores (r = -0.711) in Notch1 mutant tumors.

DATA CONCLUSION

The mpMRI-based radiomics nomogram may reflect the intratumor heterogeneity associated with downstream biofunction that predicts Notch signaling in a noninvasive manner.

EVIDENCE LEVEL

3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

The combination of radiomics features and VASARI standard to predict glioma grade

Background and Purpose

Radiomics features and The Visually AcceSAble Rembrandt Images (VASARI) standard appear to be quantitative and qualitative evaluations utilized to determine glioma grade. This study developed a preoperative model to predict glioma grade and improve the efficacy of clinical strategies by combining these two assessment methods.

Materials and Methods

Patients diagnosed with glioma between March 2017 and September 2018 who underwent surgery and histopathology were enrolled in this study. A total of 3840 radiomic features were calculated; however, using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method, only 16 features were chosen to generate a radiomic signature. Three predictive models were developed using radiomic features and VASARI standard. The performance and validity of models were evaluated using decision curve analysis and 10-fold nested cross-validation.

Results

Our study included 102 patients: 35 with low-grade glioma (LGG) and 67 with high-grade glioma (HGG). Model 1 utilized both radiomics and the VASARI standard, which included radiomic signatures, proportion of edema, and deep white matter invasion. Models 2 and 3 were constructed with radiomics or VASARI, respectively, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.937 and 0.831, respectively, which was less than that of Model 1, with an AUC of 0.966.

Conclusion

The combination of radiomics features and the VASARI standard is a robust model for predicting glioma grades.

A Semi-Unsupervised Segmentation Methodology Based on Texture Recognition for Radiomics: A Preliminary Study on Brain Tumours

Because of the intrinsic anatomic complexity of the brain structures, brain tumors have a high mortality and disability rate, and an early diagnosis is mandatory to contain damages. The commonly used biopsy is the diagnostic gold standard method, but it is invasive and, due to intratumoral heterogeneity, biopsies may lead to an incorrect result. Moreover, some tumors cannot be resectable if located in critical eloquent areas. On the other hand, medical imaging procedures can evaluate the entire tumor in a non-invasive and reproducible way. Radiomics is an emerging diagnosis technique based on quantitative medical image analyses, which makes use of data provided by non-invasive diagnosis techniques such as X-ray, computer-tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), and proton emission tomography (PET). Radiomics techniques require the comprehensive analysis of huge numbers of medical images to extract a large and useful number of phenotypic features (usually called radiomics biomarkers). The goal is to explore and obtain the associations between features of tumors, diagnosis and patients’ prognoses to choose the best treatments and maximize the patient’s survival rate. Current radiomics techniques are not standardized in term of segmentation, feature extraction, and selection, moreover, the decision on suitable therapies still requires the supervision of an expert doctor. In this paper, we propose a semi-automatic methodology aimed to help the identification and segmentation of malignant tissues by using the combination of binary texture recognition, growing area algorithm, and machine learning techniques. In particular, the proposed method not only helps to better identify pathologic tissues but also permits to analyze in a fast way the huge amount of data, in Dicom format, provided by non-invasive diagnostic techniques. A preliminary experimental assessment has been conducted, considering a real MRI database of brain tumors. The method has been compared with the segmentation software’s tools “slicer 3D”. The obtained results are quite promising and demonstrate the potentialities of the proposed semi-unsupervised segmentation methodology.

Efficient Radiomics-Based Classification of Multi-Parametric MR Images to Identify Volumetric Habitats and Signatures in Glioblastoma: A Machine Learning Approach

Simple Summary

Glioblastomas carry a poor prognosis and usually presents with heterogeneous regions in the brain tumor. Multi-parametric MR images can show morphological characteristics. Radiomics features refer to the extraction of a large number of quantitative measurements that describe the geometry, intensity, and texture which were extracted from contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images from anatomical MRI and metabolic features from PET. It also provides a qualitative image interpretation as well as cellular, molecular, and tumor properties. Thus, it derives additional information about the entire tumor volume which is generally of irregular shape and size from routinely evaluated “non-invasive” imaging biomarkers techniques. We demonstrated volumetric habitats and signatures in necrosis, solid tumor, peritumoral tissue, and edema with key biological processes and phenotype features. This provides physicians with key information on how the disease is progressing in the brain and can also give an indication of how well treatment is working.

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a fast-growing and aggressive brain tumor of the central nervous system. It encroaches on brain tissue with heterogeneous regions of a necrotic core, solid part, peritumoral tissue, and edema. This study provided qualitative image interpretation in GBM subregions and radiomics features in quantitative usage of image analysis, as well as ratios of these tumor components. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of multi-parametric MR fingerprinting with volumetric tumor phenotype and radiomic features to underlie biological process and prognostic status of patients with cerebral gliomas. Based on efficiently classified and retrieved cerebral multi-parametric MRI, all data were analyzed to derive volume-based data of the entire tumor from local cohorts and The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA) cohorts with GBM. Edema was mainly enriched for homeostasis whereas necrosis was associated with texture features. The proportional volume size of the edema was about 1.5 times larger than the size of the solid part tumor. The volume size of the solid part was approximately 0.7 times in the necrosis area. Therefore, the multi-parametric MRI-based radiomics model reveals efficiently classified tumor subregions of GBM and suggests that prognostic radiomic features from routine MRI examination may also be significantly associated with key biological processes as a practical imaging biomarker.

OUP accepted manuscript

The recent, rapid advances in immuno-oncology have revolutionized cancer treatment and spurred further research into tumor biology. Yet, cancer patients respond variably to immunotherapy despite mounting evidence to support its efficacy. Current methods for predicting immunotherapy response are unreliable, as these tests cannot fully account for tumor heterogeneity and microenvironment. An improved method for predicting response to immunotherapy is needed. Recent studies have proposed radiomics—the process of converting medical images into quantitative data (features) that can be processed using machine learning algorithms to identify complex patterns and trends—for predicting response to immunotherapy. Because patients undergo numerous imaging procedures throughout the course of the disease, there exists a wealth of radiological imaging data available for training radiomics models. And because radiomic features reflect cancer biology, such as tumor heterogeneity and microenvironment, these models have enormous potential to predict immunotherapy response more accurately than current methods. Models trained on preexisting biomarkers and/or clinical outcomes have demonstrated potential to improve patient stratification and treatment outcomes. In this review, we discuss current applications of radiomics in oncology, followed by a discussion on recent studies that use radiomics to predict immunotherapy response and toxicity.

Current Advances and Challenges in Radiomics of Brain Tumors

Imaging diagnosis is crucial for early detection and monitoring of brain tumors. Radiomics enable the extraction of a large mass of quantitative features from complex clinical imaging arrays, and then transform them into high-dimensional data which can subsequently be mined to find their relevance with the tumor's histological features, which reflect underlying genetic mutations and malignancy, along with grade, progression, therapeutic effect, or even overall survival (OS). Compared to traditional brain imaging, radiomics provides quantitative information linked to meaningful biologic characteristics and application of deep learning which sheds light on the full automation of imaging diagnosis. Recent studies have shown that radiomics' application is broad in identifying primary tumor, differential diagnosis, grading, evaluation of mutation status and aggression, prediction of treatment response and recurrence in pituitary tumors, gliomas, and brain metastases. In this descriptive review, besides establishing a general understanding among protocols, results, and clinical significance of these studies, we further discuss the current limitations along with future development of radiomics.

Magnetic resonance imaging-based radiogenomics analysis for predicting prognosis and gene expression profile in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

To establish a radiomics nomogram for survival prediction and determine if genomic data were related to radiomics signature in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODS

Radiomics features were extracted from contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images (CE-T1WI) in 316 patients. A progression-free survival (PFS) nomogram was developed and validated by the combination of the radiomics signature and clinicopathologic factors. Whole transcriptomics sequencing was performed in pretreatment tumor samples; correlation of gene expression and radiomics signature was further investigated.

RESULTS

A 24-feature-combined radiomics signature was highly correlated with PFS; its integration with clinical predictors showed good prediction performance in the training and the validation cohort (C-index: 0.80 and 0.73). A significant correlation was observed between certain gene expression and Rad-score, especially the mRNA expression of CDKL2, PLIN5, and SPAG1.

CONCLUSION

As a noninvasive method, the MRI-based radiomics signature might enable the pretreatment prediction of prognosis and gene expressions profile in advanced NPC.

A Comprehensive Review on Radiomics and Deep Learning for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Imaging

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common malignant tumours of the head and neck, and improving the efficiency of its diagnosis and treatment strategies is an important goal. With the development of the combination of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and medical imaging in recent years, an increasing number of studies have been conducted on image analysis of NPC using AI tools, especially radiomics and artificial neural network methods. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of NPC imaging research based on radiomics and deep learning. These studies depict a promising prospect for the diagnosis and treatment of NPC. The deficiencies of the current studies and the potential of radiomics and deep learning for NPC imaging are discussed. We conclude that future research should establish a large-scale labelled dataset of NPC images and that studies focused on screening for NPC using AI are necessary.

Reverse Engineering Glioma Radiomics to Conventional Neuroimaging

A novel radiological research field pursuing comprehensive quantitative image, namely “Radiomics,” gained traction along with the advancement of computational technology and artificial intelligence. This novel concept for analyzing medical images brought extensive interest to the neuro-oncology and neuroradiology research community to build a diagnostic workflow to detect clinically relevant genetic alteration of gliomas noninvasively. Although quite a few promising results were published regarding MRI-based diagnosis of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation in gliomas, it has become clear that an ample amount of effort is still needed to render this technology clinically applicable. At the same time, many significant insights were discovered through this research project, some of which could be “reverse engineered” to improve conventional non-radiomic MR image acquisition. In this review article, the authors aim to discuss the recent advancements and encountering issues of radiomics, how we can apply the knowledge provided by radiomics to standard clinical images, and further expected technological advances in the realm of radiomics and glioma.

Glioblastoma Surgery Imaging-Reporting and Data System: Standardized Reporting of Tumor Volume, Location, and Resectability Based on Automated Segmentations

Treatment decisions for patients with presumed glioblastoma are based on tumor characteristics available from a preoperative MR scan. Tumor characteristics, including volume, location, and resectability, are often estimated or manually delineated. This process is time consuming and subjective. Hence, comparison across cohorts, trials, or registries are subject to assessment bias. In this study, we propose a standardized Glioblastoma Surgery Imaging Reporting and Data System (GSI-RADS) based on an automated method of tumor segmentation that provides standard reports on tumor features that are potentially relevant for glioblastoma surgery. As clinical validation, we determine the agreement in extracted tumor features between the automated method and the current standard of manual segmentations from routine clinical MR scans before treatment. In an observational consecutive cohort of 1596 adult patients with a first time surgery of a glioblastoma from 13 institutions, we segmented gadolinium-enhanced tumor parts both by a human rater and by an automated algorithm. Tumor features were extracted from segmentations of both methods and compared to assess differences, concordance, and equivalence. The laterality, contralateral infiltration, and the laterality indices were in excellent agreement. The native and normalized tumor volumes had excellent agreement, consistency, and equivalence. Multifocality, but not the number of foci, had good agreement and equivalence. The location profiles of cortical and subcortical structures were in excellent agreement. The expected residual tumor volumes and resectability indices had excellent agreement, consistency, and equivalence. Tumor probability maps were in good agreement. In conclusion, automated segmentations are in excellent agreement with manual segmentations and practically equivalent regarding tumor features that are potentially relevant for neurosurgical purposes. Standard GSI-RADS reports can be generated by open access software.

Deciphering the glioblastoma phenotype by computed tomography radiomics

INTRODUCTION

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumour which has, despite extensive treatment, a median overall survival of 15 months. Radiomics is the high-throughput extraction of large amounts of image features from radiographic images, which allows capturing the tumour phenotype in 3D and in a non-invasive way. In this study we assess the prognostic value of CT radiomics for overall survival in patients with a GBM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical data and pre-treatment CT images were obtained from 218 patients diagnosed with a GBM via biopsy who underwent radiotherapy +/- temozolomide between 2004 and 2015 treated at three independent institutes (n = 93, 62 and 63). A clinical prognostic score (CPS), a simple radiomics model consisting of volume based score (VPS), a complex radiomics prognostic score (RPS) and a combined clinical and radiomics (C + R)PS model were developed. The population was divided into three risk groups for each prognostic score and respective Kaplan-Meier curves were generated.

RESULTS

Patient characteristics were broadly comparable. Clinically significant differences were observed with regards to radiation dose, tumour volume and performance status between datasets. Image acquisition parameters differed between institutes. The cross-validated c-indices were moderately discriminative and for the CPS ranged from 0.63 to 0.65; the VPS c-indices ranged between 0.52 and 0.61; the RPS c-indices ranged from 0.57 to 0.64 and the combined clinical and radiomics model resulted in c-indices of 0.59-0.71.

CONCLUSION

In this study clinical and CT radiomics features were used to predict OS in GBM. Discrimination between low-, middle- and high-risk patients based on the combined clinical and radiomics model was comparable to previous MRI-based models.