Johanna Heugenhauser, Carmen Visus, Johanna Buchroithner, Christine Marosi, Karl Rössler, Thomas Felzmann, Georg Widhalm, Sarah Iglseder, Martha Nowosielski, Friedrich Erhart
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Glioblastoma is the most frequent and aggressive brain cancer. It is a highly immunology-driven disease as up to a third of its mass is composed of immune cells. Apart from immunology, imaging is a major research frontier. The VASARI (Visually AcceSAble Rembrandt Images) MRI feature set is a system designed to enable consistent description of gliomas using a set of defined visual features and controlled vocabulary. Even though imaging and immunology are both indispensable for glioblastoma phenotyping, a comprehensive integration of these two disciplines has not been performed so far.
Material and methods: 76 patients from a previous glioblastoma immunotherapy clinical trial were retrospectively screened for the availability of peripheral blood immunology and tumor imaging data at baseline, i.e. at the start of the study. For 41 patients both were available. MRI were then analyzed via volumetry and VASARI morphometry. The resulting 27 imaging variables were linked with 67 peripheral blood immunology variables from flow cytometry and PCR and all potential relations were mapped.
Results: In an initial broad screening, 94 imaging-immunology associations were discovered. Notably, features of the contrast-enhancing margin like its thickness and its shape were positively correlated with various T cell species including activated cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and central memory CD8+ T cells. The T2-volume was correlated with CD56+CD16- natural killer cells, and the necrosis volume was correlated with immunopolarizing mRNAs in the blood (IFN-γ, GATA3, ROR-gt). After multiple testing correction, two imaging-immunology associations were confirmed as significant: a thick contrast-enhancing margin was correlated with lower regulatory T cell markers in the blood and invasion of deep white matter was correlated with less T helper 17 factors.
Conclusion: We here provide first evidence that imaging and peripheral blood immunology features can go hand in hand and that imaging variables can correlate with systemic immunophenotypes. Especially a thick contrast-enhancing margin seems to indicate a pro-inflammatory immune state. Via pioneering the integration of imaging and immunology, we not only advance basic glioblastoma science but we also open up novel avenues for research. In the future, e.g. patient stratification for therapy development could be based on imaging-guided immunophenotyping.
期刊介绍:
"Acta Neuropathologica Communications (ANC)" is a peer-reviewed journal that specializes in the rapid publication of research articles focused on the mechanisms underlying neurological diseases. The journal emphasizes the use of molecular, cellular, and morphological techniques applied to experimental or human tissues to investigate the pathogenesis of neurological disorders.
ANC is committed to a fast-track publication process, aiming to publish accepted manuscripts within two months of submission. This expedited timeline is designed to ensure that the latest findings in neuroscience and pathology are disseminated quickly to the scientific community, fostering rapid advancements in the field of neurology and neuroscience. The journal's focus on cutting-edge research and its swift publication schedule make it a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and other professionals interested in the study and treatment of neurological conditions.