title: Exploring the biomechanical properties of brain malignancies and their pathologic determinants in vivo with magnetic resonance elastography.
abstract: Malignant tumors are typically associated with altered rigidity relative to normal host tissue. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) enables the noninvasive quantitation of the mechanical properties of deep-seated tissue following application of an external vibrational mechanical stress to that tissue. In this preclinical study, we used MRE to quantify (kPa) the elasticity modulus Gd and viscosity modulus Gl of three intracranially implanted glioma and breast metastatic tumor models. In all these brain tumors, we found a notable softness characterized by lower elasticity and viscosity than normal brain parenchyma, enabling their detection on Gd and Gl parametric maps. The most circumscribed tumor (U-87 MG glioma) was the stiffest, whereas the most infiltrative tumor (MDA-MB-231 metastatic breast carcinoma) was the softest. Tumor cell density and microvessel density correlated significantly and positively with elasticity and viscosity, whereas there was no association with the extent of collagen deposition or myelin fiber entrapment. In conclusion, although malignant tumors tend to exhibit increased rigidity, intracranial tumors presented as remarkably softer than normal brain parenchyma. Our findings reinforce the case for MRE use in diagnosing and staging brain malignancies, based on the association of different tumor phenotypes with different mechanical properties.
authors: Division of Radiotherapy & Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Yann
authors: Y
authors: Jamin
authors: Division of Radiotherapy & Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Jessica K R
authors: JKR
authors: Boult
authors: Division of Radiotherapy & Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom.|Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Sergey
authors: S
authors: Popov
authors: INSERM U1149, CRI, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation, Paris, France.
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Garteiser
authors: Bioxydyn Ltd, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors: Jose L
authors: JL
authors: Ulloa
authors: Division of Radiotherapy & Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Craig
authors: C
authors: Cummings
authors: Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Gary
authors: G
authors: Box
authors: Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Suzanne A
authors: SA
authors: Eccles
authors: Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom.|Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Jones
authors: Personalised Healthcare and Biomarkers, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom.
authors: John C
authors: JC
authors: Waterton
authors: Division of Radiotherapy & Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Jeffrey C
authors: JC
authors: Bamber
authors: BHF Centre of Excellence, Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, King's Health Partners, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Ralph
authors: R
authors: Sinkus
authors: Division of Radiotherapy & Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Simon P
authors: SP
authors: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004548:Elasticity; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008819:Mice, Nude; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation