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Brian Tumors

Glioblastoma Radiogenomics: The research topic is mainly focused on glioblastoma multiforme(GBM). We will investigate the heterogeneity of MR imaging findings between inter- and intra-tumors, and also explore the correlation between MR imaging findings and gene mutations. We have glioblastoma cell culture with specific genetic information, such as tumor formation, angiogenesis, gene clusters associated with DNA damage and repair. Furthermore, an animal model of glioblastoma multiforme will be established at 7T MRI, and the same method can be applied to MR imaging study on human participants at 3T MRI.   

Meanwhile, the information of gene mutation in GBM can be obtained from DNA microarray experiment, and the molecular expressions of glioblastoma multiforme with different genomic modifications are compared with MRI-based biomarkers. With the combined application of genomic information and advanced multiparametric MRI, the tumor extent can be accurately defined, the therapeutic response can be better monitored and the prognosis can be well predicted. In brief, this bedside-to-bench translational research in TIRC is aimed to establish a radiogenomics platform based on advanced MR imaging for the purpose of understanding the genomic modification of glioblastoma multiforme and its relation with the perspective of molecular MRI.

The interaction of glioblastoma and drug therapy, the development of prognostic factors in imaging: Recent studies have been investigating and monitoring the progression of tumors with molecular MRI. Particularly, the non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a mature technology for diagnosing brain tumors as it offers detailed images with high resolution that are provided by combination of contrast agents and antitumor agents. We assume that the therapeutic response in GBM (includes drug resistance, the localized recurrence rate, etc.) would be affected by Temozolomide (TMZ) induced activation in neural pathways within the brain due to its modification to signals of DNA sequence in tumor cells.

We indicate the content of DNA repair signaling pathways within the tumor cell via the advanced magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers, which a multi-parametric imaging approach is taken. The well-established knowledge of the relation between imaging biomarkers and TMZ-based therapeutic reaction may contribute meaningfully to future diagnosis of GBM.
Bevacizumab (Avastin) is a drug as angiogenesis inhibitor for cancer therapy. It slows the growth of new blood vessels and decreases the volume of tumor cells by inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), and is usually combined with target-therapy for treating brain tumors. Examining the volume of tumor by using MRI is one of the methods to evaluate the therapeutic reaction of Bevacizumab, which mainly uses the contrast agent to enhance the image of blood-brain barrier within the tumor.
However, some of the drugs for treating glioblastoma multiforme may lead to misdiagnosis due to its false repair of blood-brain barrier within the brain. So far there have been seldom appropriate MRI methods to avoid the false repair and to illustrate the region of tumors within brain. We aim to use molecular nanotechnology combined with both MRI and Bevacizumab to establish a platform for diagnosis and treatment of GBM based on MRI images.
In conclusion, based on the research of radiogenomics of GBM, TIRC carries out the core ideology of translational imaging research as with NMR and BER pathways of tumor cell chemoresistance mechanisms, TMZ-resistance mechanisms based on animal models of GBM, innovative MRI technology and quantitative imaging biomarkers development, and radiogenomic analysis of GBM. The goal of research is to explore and estimate TMZ-resistance mechanisms of GBM relied on MRI methods. Clinical trials of drugs (MPT0B291, SP1 and mTOR inhibitors) combined with above research findings will be conducted as future applications.