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Updated: May 23, 2026
Longitudinal Intravital Imaging of Brain Tumor Cell Behavior in Response to an Invasive Surgical Biopsy
Published on: May 3, 2019
Imaging biomarkers of brain tumour margin and tumour invasion
1Academic Neurosurgery Division, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK. sjp58@cam.ac.uk
Abstract:
Invasion of tumour cells into the normal brain is one of the major reasons of treatment failure for gliomas. Although there is a good understanding of the molecular and cellular processes that occur during this invasion, it is not possible to detect the extent of the tumour with conventional imaging. However, there is an understanding that the degree of invasion differs with individual tumours, and yet they are all treated the same. Newer imaging techniques that probe the pathological changes within tumours may be suitable biomarkers for invasion. Imaging methods are now available that can detect subtle changes in white matter organisation (diffusion tensor imaging), tumour metabolism and cellular proliferation (using MR spectroscopy and positron emission tomography) occurring in regions of tumour that cannot be detected by conventional imaging. The role of such biomarkers of invasion should allow better delineation of tumour margins, which should improve treatment planning (especially surgery and radiotherapy) and provide information on the invasiveness of an individual tumour to help select the most appropriate therapy and help stratify patients for clinical trials.
Insights
Glioma invasion into the brain hinders treatment success. Advanced imaging techniques offer new biomarkers to detect subtle tumor changes, improving treatment planning and patient stratification.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Medical Imaging
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Glioma cell invasion into normal brain tissue is a primary cause of treatment failure.
- Conventional imaging methods cannot accurately detect the full extent of glioma invasion.
- Tumor invasion varies significantly between individuals, yet treatments are often standardized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore novel imaging techniques as biomarkers for detecting and quantifying glioma invasion.
- To improve the delineation of tumor margins for better treatment planning.
- To stratify patients based on tumor invasiveness for personalized therapy selection.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing advanced imaging modalities such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to assess white matter organization.
- Employing MR spectroscopy (MRS) and positron emission tomography (PET) to probe tumor metabolism and cellular proliferation.
- Investigating the potential of these techniques to identify regions of tumor infiltration not visible with conventional imaging.
Main Results:
- Advanced imaging methods can detect subtle pathological changes indicative of tumor invasion.
- These techniques offer the potential to visualize regions of infiltration beyond conventional imaging capabilities.
- Individualized assessment of tumor invasiveness may be achievable through these novel biomarkers.
Conclusions:
- Newer imaging techniques show promise as biomarkers for glioma invasion.
- Improved tumor margin delineation through advanced imaging can enhance surgical and radiotherapeutic planning.
- Biomarkers of invasion can guide personalized treatment selection and patient stratification for clinical trials.
