Quantitative modeling of clinical, cellular, and extracellular matrix variables suggest prognostic indicators in cancer: a model in neuroblastoma.
BACKGROUND
Risk classification and treatment stratification for cancer patients is restricted by our incomplete picture of the complex and unknown interactions between the patient's organism and tumor tissues (transformed cells supported by tumor stroma). Moreover, all clinical factors and laboratory studies used to indicate treatment effectiveness and outcomes are by their nature a simplification of the biological system of cancer, and cannot yet incorporate all possible prognostic indicators.


METHODS
A multiparametric analysis on 184 tumor cylinders was performed. To highlight the benefit of integrating digitized medical imaging into this field, we present the results of computational studies carried out on quantitative measurements, taken from stromal and cancer cells and various extracellular matrix fibers interpenetrated by glycosaminoglycans, and eight current approaches to risk stratification systems in patients with primary and nonprimary neuroblastoma.


RESULTS
New tumor tissue indicators from both fields, the cellular and the extracellular elements, emerge as reliable prognostic markers for risk stratification and could be used as molecular targets of specific therapies.


CONCLUSIONS
The key to dealing with personalized therapy lies in the mathematical modeling. The use of bioinformatics in patient-tumor-microenvironment data management allows a predictive model in neuroblastoma.
Medical Research Foundation INCLIVA, Hospital Clínico, Valencia, Spain.
Irene
I
Tadeo
Pathology Department, Medical School, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Marta
M
Piqueras
Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF), Valencia, Spain.
David
D
Montaner
Pathology Department, Medical School, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Eva
E
Villamón
Pathology Department, Medical School, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Ana P
AP
Berbegall
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Hospital Universitario y Policlínico La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
Adela
A
Cañete
Pathology Department, Medical School, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Samuel
S
Navarro
Pathology Department, Medical School, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Rosa
R
Noguera
D000465:Algorithms; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019295:Computational Biology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000473:pathology*; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology*; D057285:Precision Medicine; D011379:Prognosis; D012306:Risk; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans