Radiomic prediction models for the level of Ki-67 and p53 in glioma

To identify glioma radiomic features associated with proliferation-related Ki-67 antigen and cellular tumour antigen p53 levels, common immunohistochemical markers for differentiating benign from malignant tumours, and to generate radiomic prediction models.

Patients with glioma, who were scanned before therapy using standard brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols on T1 and T2 weighted imaging, were included. For each patient, regions-of-interest (ROI) were drawn based on tumour and peritumoral areas (5/10/15/20 mm), and features were identified using feature calculations, and used to create and assess logistic regression models for Ki-67 and p53 levels.

A total of 92 patients were included. The best area under the curve (AUC) for the Ki-67 model was 0.773 for T2 weighted imaging in solid glioma (sensitivity, 0.818; specificity, 0.833), followed by a less reliable AUC of 0.773 (sensitivity, 0.727; specificity 0.667) in 20-mm peritumoral areas. The highest AUC for the p53 model was 0.709 (sensitivity, 1; specificity, 0.4) for T2 weighted imaging in 10-mm peritumoral areas.

Using T2-weighted imaging, the prediction model for Ki-67 level in solid glioma tissue was better than the p53 model. The 20-mm and 10-mm peritumoral areas in the Ki-67 and p53 model, respectively, showed predictive effects, suggesting value in further research into areas without conventional MRI features.