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Multicolor 3D Printing of Complex Intracranial Tumors in Neurosurgery
Published on: January 11, 2020
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Three-dimensional visualization of human brain tumors using the CUBIC technique.
Yangyang Xu1, Qi He2, Mengqi Wang1
1Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Brain Tumor Pathology
|November 12, 2022
Summary
CUBIC tissue clearing enables 3D visualization of human brain tumors, revealing correlations between microvessel structure and malignancy. This technique enhances understanding of brain tumor pathology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pathology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Tissue clearing techniques are crucial for 3D pathological studies.
- Application in human brain tumors remains limited, hindering comprehensive analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of CUBIC (Clear, Unobtanium-based, Biomolecular Imagers' Compatible) clearing for 3D pathological studies of human brain tumors.
- To assess the compatibility of CUBIC with immunostaining for cellular and vascular components.
Main Methods:
- Human brain tumor specimens (n=21) were processed using the CUBIC tissue clearing method.
- Immunostaining was performed to label astrocytes, microglia, and microvessels within cleared tissues.
- 3D visualization and quantitative morphological analysis of labeled structures were conducted.
Main Results:
- CUBIC successfully rendered all human brain tumor specimens transparent.
- CUBIC demonstrated excellent compatibility with immunostaining protocols for various tumor types.
- 3D spatial morphologies of microvessels, astrocytes, and microglia were clearly visualized and quantified.
- Mean vascular diameter positively correlated with tumor malignancy, suggesting its utility as a biomarker.
Conclusions:
- CUBIC is a viable and effective technique for 3D pathological studies of diverse human brain tumors.
- 3D analysis of brain tumors using CUBIC offers significant potential for advancing our understanding of tumor pathology and progression.
