title: A Proposed Paradigm Shift in Initializing Cancer Predictive Models with DCE-MRI Based PK Parameters: A Feasibility Study.
abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme is the most aggressive type of glioma and the most common malignant primary intra-axial brain tumor. In an effort to predict the evolution of the disease and optimize therapeutical decisions, several models have been proposed for simulating the growth pattern of glioma. One of the latest models incorporates cell proliferation and invasion, angiogenic net rates, oxygen consumption, and vasculature. These factors, particularly oxygenation levels, are considered fundamental factors of tumor heterogeneity and compartmentalization. This paper focuses on the initialization of the cancer cell populations and vasculature based on imaging examinations of the patient and presents a feasibility study on vasculature prediction over time. To this end, pharmacokinetic parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging using Toft's model are used in order to feed the model. K (trans) is used as a metric of the density of endothelial cells (vasculature); at the same time, it also helps to discriminate distinct image areas of interest, under a set of assumptions. Feasibility results of applying the model to a real clinical case are presented, including a study on the effect of certain parameters on the pattern of the simulated tumor.
authors.affiliation: Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Computer Science, Computational BioMedicine Lab, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roniotis
authors.affiliation: Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Computer Science, Computational BioMedicine Lab, Heraklion, Greece. ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Mariam-Eleni
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Oraiopoulou
authors.affiliation: Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Computer Science, Computational BioMedicine Lab, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleftheria
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tzamali
authors.affiliation: Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Computer Science, Computational BioMedicine Lab, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleftherios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kontopodis
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Cauter
authors.affiliation: Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Computer Science, Computational BioMedicine Lab, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Vangelis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sakkalis
authors.affiliation: Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Computer Science, Computational BioMedicine Lab, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marias
keywords: Toft’s model; dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI); glioblastoma multiforme; in silico oncology; pharmacokinetics; translational oncology; tumor growth model; tumor physiology; vasculature