Impact of radiogenomics in esophageal cancer on clinical outcomes: A pilot study
Valentina Brancato, Nunzia Garbino, Lorenzo Mannelli, Marco Aiello, Marco Salvatore, Monica Franzese, Carlo Cavaliere
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer (ESCA) is the sixth most common malignancy in the world, and its incidence is rapidly increasing. Recently, several microRNAs (miRNAs) and messenger RNA (mRNA) targets were evaluated as potential biomarkers and regulators of epigenetic mechanisms involved in early diagnosis. In addition, computed tomography (CT) radiomic studies on ESCA improved the early stage identification and the prediction of response to treatment. Radiogenomics provides clinically useful prognostic predictions by linking molecular characteristics such as gene mutations and gene expression patterns of malignant tumors with medical images and could provide more opportunities in the management of patients with ESCA. AIM: To explore the combination of CT radiomic features and molecular targets associated with clinical outcomes for characterization of ESCA patients. METHODS: < 0.05. RESULTS: < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study revealed interesting relationships between the expression of eight N6-methyladenosine RNA regulators, as well as five up-regulated miRNAs, and CT radiomic features associated with clinical outcomes of ESCA patients.