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Arthur A, Johnston EW, Winfield JM, Blackledge MD, Jones RL, Huang PH, Messiou C. Virtual Biopsy in Soft Tissue Sarcoma. How Close Are We? Front Oncol 2022; 12:892620. [PMID: 35847882 PMCID: PMC9286756 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.892620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A shift in radiology to a data-driven specialty has been unlocked by synergistic developments in imaging biomarkers (IB) and computational science. This is advancing the capability to deliver “virtual biopsies” within oncology. The ability to non-invasively probe tumour biology both spatially and temporally would fulfil the potential of imaging to inform management of complex tumours; improving diagnostic accuracy, providing new insights into inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity and individualised treatment planning and monitoring. Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare tumours of mesenchymal origin with over 150 histological subtypes and notorious heterogeneity. The combination of inter- and intra-tumoural heterogeneity and the rarity of the disease remain major barriers to effective treatments. We provide an overview of the process of successful IB development, the key imaging and computational advancements in STS including quantitative magnetic resonance imaging, radiomics and artificial intelligence, and the studies to date that have explored the potential biological surrogates to imaging metrics. We discuss the promising future directions of IBs in STS and illustrate how the routine clinical implementation of a virtual biopsy has the potential to revolutionise the management of this group of complex cancers and improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amani Arthur
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, United Kingdom
| | - Edward W. Johnston
- Sarcoma Unit, The Royal Marsden National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica M. Winfield
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, United Kingdom
- Sarcoma Unit, The Royal Marsden National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew D. Blackledge
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, United Kingdom
| | - Robin L. Jones
- Sarcoma Unit, The Royal Marsden National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul H. Huang
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Paul H. Huang, ; Christina Messiou,
| | - Christina Messiou
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, United Kingdom
- Sarcoma Unit, The Royal Marsden National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Paul H. Huang, ; Christina Messiou,
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