Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment of Carcinogen-induced Murine Bladder Tumors
Published on: March 29, 2019
MRI-Based Radiomics Reveals Cannabinoid-Associated Tumor Phenotypes in a Murine Breast Cancer Model
Ioana Creanga-Murariu1,2,3, Cosmin-Vasilica Pricope1,2,4, Mitica Ciorpac1
1Advanced Research and Development Center for Experimental Medicine "Prof. Ostin C. Mungiu" (CEMEX), Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania.
Introduction And Aim:
Assessment of antitumor activity in preclinical models remains challenging when relying solely on conventional size-based imaging, particularly for complex agents such as cannabinoids, whose biological effects may not translate into early volumetric tumor changes. Cannabinoid formulations, including the synthetic cannabinoid JWH-182, Cannabixir® Medium dried flowers, and Cannabixir® THC full extract, exhibit diverse and potentially subtle effects on tumor biology. Radiomics enables high-throughput extraction of quantitative imaging features that capture intratumoral heterogeneity beyond gross tumor volume. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of MRI-based radiomics as a sensitive tool for detecting cannabinoid-associated tumor phenotypic modulation in a preclinical breast cancer model.
Methods:
Orthotopic breast tumors were induced in mice using the 4T1 cell line. Animals received cannabinoid formulations in combination with chemotherapy according to a predefined protocol. Tumor burden was assessed at baseline and post-treatment using ultrasonography and whole-body MRI to calculate tumor doubling time. T1- and T2-weighted MRI datasets were segmented and analyzed using radiomics to extract morphometric and signal-based features.
Results:
Conventional imaging revealed no significant differences in tumor doubling time between most cannabinoid-treated groups and controls, except for accelerated growth in animals treated with Cannabixir® THC full extract. In contrast, radiomics identified distinct, compound-specific tumor phenotypes, including structural features consistent with reduced aggressiveness, in JWH-182-treated tumors, despite similar volumetric growth patterns.
Conclusion:
MRI-based radiomics sensitively captures cannabinoid-associated tumor phenotype alterations beyond volumetric assessment, supporting its value as a pharmaco-imaging tool for characterizing treatment-related tumor biology in preclinical oncology.
Insights
Radiomics, a quantitative imaging analysis, detected subtle cannabinoid effects on breast cancer phenotypes in mice. This MRI-based approach offers a sensitive tool for preclinical oncology drug evaluation beyond traditional tumor size measurements.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Assessing antitumor activity in preclinical models is challenging with conventional imaging, especially for complex agents like cannabinoids.
- Cannabinoid formulations can have subtle biological effects not reflected in early volumetric tumor changes.
- Radiomics offers a method to extract quantitative imaging features, capturing intratumoral heterogeneity beyond tumor volume.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of MRI-based radiomics for detecting cannabinoid-associated tumor phenotypic modulation.
- To assess the sensitivity of radiomics in characterizing cannabinoid effects in a preclinical breast cancer model.
Main Methods:
- Orthotopic breast tumors were induced in mice using the 4T1 cell line.
- Mice received cannabinoid formulations with chemotherapy; tumor burden was assessed using ultrasonography and MRI.
- T1- and T2-weighted MRI datasets were analyzed using radiomics to extract morphometric and signal-based features.
Main Results:
- Conventional imaging showed no significant differences in tumor doubling time for most cannabinoid groups.
- Radiomics identified distinct, compound-specific tumor phenotypes, including reduced aggressiveness with JWH-182.
- Cannabixir® THC full extract was associated with accelerated tumor growth.
Conclusions:
- MRI-based radiomics sensitively captures cannabinoid-associated tumor phenotype alterations.
- Radiomics provides valuable insights beyond volumetric assessment in preclinical oncology.
- This pharmaco-imaging tool aids in characterizing treatment-related tumor biology.
