OBJECTIVE To assess the value of qualitative and quantitative MRI radiomics features for noninvasive prediction of immuno-oncologic characteristics and outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS This retrospective, IRB-approved study included 48 patients with HCC (M/F 35/13, mean age 60y) who underwent hepatic resection or transplant within 4 months of abdominal MRI. Qualitative imaging traits, quantitative nontexture related and texture features were assessed in index lesions on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted images. The association of imaging features with immunoprofiling and genomics features was assessed using binary logistic regression and correlation analyses. Binary logistic regression analysis was also employed to analyse the association of radiomics, histopathologic and genomics features with radiological early recurrence of HCC at 12 months. RESULTS Qualitative (r = - 0.41-0.40, p < 0.042) and quantitative (r = - 0.52-0.45, p < 0.049) radiomics features correlated with immunohistochemical cell type markers for T-cells (CD3), macrophages (CD68) and endothelial cells (CD31). Radiomics features also correlated with expression of immunotherapy targets PD-L1 at protein level (r = 0.41-0.47, p < 0.029) as well as PD1 and CTLA4 at mRNA expression level (r = - 0.48-0.47, p < 0.037). Finally, radiomics features, including tumour size, showed significant diagnostic performance for assessment of early HCC recurrence (AUC 0.76-0.80, p < 0.043), while immunoprofiling and genomic features did not (p = 0.098-0929). CONCLUSIONS MRI radiomics features may serve as noninvasive predictors of HCC immuno-oncological characteristics and tumour recurrence and may aid in treatment stratification of HCC patients. These results need prospective validation. KEY POINTS • MRI radiomics features showed significant associations with immunophenotyping and genomics characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma. • Radiomics features, including tumour size, showed significant associations with early hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after resection.

中文翻译：

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MRI 放射组学特征可预测肝细胞癌的免疫肿瘤学特征。


目的 评估定性和定量 MRI 放射组学特征对于无创预测肝细胞癌 (HCC) 免疫肿瘤学特征和结果的价值。方法 这项经 IRB 批准的回顾性研究纳入了 48 名 HCC 患者（男/女 35/13，平均年龄 60 岁），他们在腹部 MRI 检测后 4 个月内接受了肝切除或移植。在对比增强 T1 加权和扩散加权图像上评估索引病变的定性成像特征、定量非纹理相关和纹理特征。使用二元逻辑回归和相关分析评估成像特征与免疫分析和基因组学特征的关联。还采用二元逻辑回归分析来分析放射组学、组织病理学和基因组学特征与 12 个月时 HCC 放射学早期复发的关联。结果 定性（r = - 0.41-0.40，p < 0.042）和定量（r = - 0.52-0.45，p < 0.049）放射组学特征与 T 细胞 (CD3)、巨噬细胞 (CD68) 的免疫组织化学细胞类型标记物相关和内皮细胞（CD31）。放射组学特征还与免疫治疗靶标 PD-L1 在蛋白质水平上的表达相关 (r = 0.41-0.47, p < 0.029) 以及与 PD1 和 CTLA4 在 mRNA 表达水平上的表达相关 (r = - 0.48-0.47, p < 0.037) 。最后，包括肿瘤大小在内的放射组学特征在评估早期 HCC 复发方面显示出显着的诊断性能（AUC 0.76-0.80，p < 0.043），而免疫分析和基因组特征则没有（p = 0.098-0929）。结论 MRI 放射组学特征可以作为 HCC 免疫肿瘤学特征和肿瘤复发的无创预测因子，并可能有助于 HCC 患者的治疗分层。 这些结果需要前瞻性验证。要点 • MRI 放射组学特征显示与肝细胞癌的免疫表型和基因组学特征显着相关。 • 放射组学特征，包括肿瘤大小，显示与切除后早期肝细胞癌复发显着相关。