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Assessing the predictability of the H3K27M status in diffuse glioma patients using frequency importance analysis on
Yibing Chen1, Benqi Zhao2, Changhao Zhu1
1School of Information Sciences and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China; Xi'an Key Laboratory of Radiomics and Intelligent Perception, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
Background And Objectives:
In diffuse glioma patients, Lys-27-Met mutations in histone 3 genes (H3K27M) are associated with an aggravated prognosis and further decreased overall survival. By using frequency importance analysis on chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI, this study aimed to assess the predictability of the H3K27M status in diffuse glioma patients.
Methods:
Twenty-two patients diagnosed with diffuse glioma, with a known H3K27M status, were included in the present study. All patients underwent CEST MRI scans. The previously proposed frequency importance analysis was performed to determine the relative contribution of the amide and aliphatic protons for the differentiation between normal tissues and tumors. For this comparison, the conventional MTRasym analysis of amide protons at 3.5 ppm, i.e., the amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) signal, was employed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) analyses.
Results:
The mean and 90th percentile of the ΔAPTw intensities, amide and aliphatic frequency importance values revealed statistically significant differences between the wildtype and the H3K27M-altered patient groups (p < 0.05). For the prediction of the H3K27M status, amide frequency importance achieved highest AUCs of 0.97, with a specificity of 0.93. In contrast, the ΔAPTw intensities and aliphatic frequency importance showed relatively lower AUCs (<0.35) in predicting the H3K27M status.
Conclusions:
Amide frequency importance exhibited satisfactory performance in the prediction of the H3K27M status. As such, it may be considered as a non-invasive MRI biomarker for the diagnosis of diffuse gliomas.
Insights
Histone 3 gene (H3K27M) mutations in diffuse gliomas worsen prognosis. Frequency importance analysis of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI effectively predicts H3K27M status, showing promise as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Medical imaging
- Molecular pathology
Background:
- Histone 3 Lys-27-Met (H3K27M) mutations in diffuse gliomas are linked to poor prognosis and reduced survival.
- Accurate identification of H3K27M status is crucial for patient management and therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the predictive capability of frequency importance analysis using chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI for H3K27M status in diffuse glioma patients.
- To explore the potential of CEST MRI as a non-invasive biomarker for H3K27M-altered diffuse gliomas.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-two diffuse glioma patients with known H3K27M status underwent CEST MRI scans.
- Frequency importance analysis was applied to differentiate normal tissues from tumors, focusing on amide and aliphatic proton contributions.
- Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U tests and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with area under the curve (AUC) calculations.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in amide and aliphatic frequency importance values were observed between wildtype and H3K27M-altered groups.
- Amide frequency importance demonstrated high predictive performance for H3K27M status, achieving an AUC of 0.97 and specificity of 0.93.
- ΔAPTw intensities and aliphatic frequency importance showed lower predictive power (AUC < 0.35).
Conclusions:
- Amide frequency importance derived from CEST MRI is a reliable method for predicting H3K27M status in diffuse gliomas.
- This approach shows potential as a non-invasive MRI biomarker for diagnosing H3K27M-altered diffuse gliomas, aiding clinical decision-making.
