Journal Article

DKFZ-2024-01424

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Tumor biomechanics as a novel imaging biomarker to assess response to immunotherapy in a murine glioma model.

Streibel, Y. ; Breckwoldt, M. (First author)DKFZ* ; Hunger, J.DKFZ* ; Pan, C.DKFZ* ; Fischer, M. ; Turco, V.DKFZ* ; Boztepe, B.DKFZ* ; Fels-Palesandro, H. ; Scheck, J. G. ; Sturm, V. ; Karimian-Jazi, K.DKFZ* ; Agardy, D. A.DKFZ* ; Annio, G. ; Mustapha, R. ; Soni, S. S. ; Alasa, A. ; Weidenfeld, I. ; Rodell, C. B. ; Wick, W.DKFZ* ; Heiland, S. ; Winkler, F.DKFZ* ; Platten, M.DKFZ* ; Bendszus, M. ; Sinkus, R. ; Schregel, K. (Last author)DKFZ*

2024
Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature [London]

Abstract: Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary malignant brain tumor with poor prognosis. Novel immunotherapeutic approaches are currently under investigation. Even though magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most important imaging tool for treatment monitoring, response assessment is often hampered by therapy-related tissue changes. As tumor and therapy-associated tissue reactions differ structurally, we hypothesize that biomechanics could be a pertinent imaging proxy for differentiation. Longitudinal MRI and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) were performed to monitor response to immunotherapy with a toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist in orthotopic syngeneic experimental glioma. Imaging results were correlated to histology and light sheet microscopy data. Here, we identify MRE as a promising non-invasive imaging method for immunotherapy-monitoring by quantifying changes in response-related tumor mechanics. Specifically, we show that a relative softening of treated compared to untreated tumors is linked to the inflammatory processes following therapy-induced re-education of tumor-associated myeloid cells. Mechanistically, combined effects of myeloid influx and inflammation including extracellular matrix degradation following immunotherapy form the basis of treated tumors being softer than untreated glioma. This is a very early indicator of therapy response outperforming established imaging metrics such as tumor volume. The overall anti-tumor inflammatory processes likely have similar effects on human brain tissue biomechanics, making MRE a promising tool for gauging response to immunotherapy in glioma patients early, thereby strongly impacting patient pathway.

Keyword(s): Animals (MeSH) ; Mice (MeSH) ; Glioma: diagnostic imaging (MeSH) ; Glioma: therapy (MeSH) ; Glioma: immunology (MeSH) ; Glioma: pathology (MeSH) ; Immunotherapy: methods (MeSH) ; Brain Neoplasms: diagnostic imaging (MeSH) ; Brain Neoplasms: immunology (MeSH) ; Brain Neoplasms: therapy (MeSH) ; Brain Neoplasms: pathology (MeSH) ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging: methods (MeSH) ; Disease Models, Animal (MeSH) ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques: methods (MeSH) ; Cell Line, Tumor (MeSH) ; Biomechanical Phenomena (MeSH) ; Humans (MeSH) ; Mice, Inbred C57BL (MeSH) ; Biomarkers, Tumor: metabolism (MeSH) ; Glioma ; Immunotherapy ; MR elastography ; Tissue biomechanics ; Tumor stiffness ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Note: #EA:D170#LA:B320#

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. KKE Neuroimmunologie und Hirntumorimmunologie (D170)
2. DKTK HD zentral (HD01)
3. KKE Neuroonkologie (B320)

Research Program(s):

1. 312 - Funktionelle und strukturelle Genomforschung (POF4-312) (POF4-312)

Appears in the scientific report 2024

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