Multimodal fusion model for prognostic prediction and radiotherapy response assessment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Accurate prediction of prognosis and postoperative radiotherapy response is critical for personalized treatment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We developed a multimodal deep learning model (MDLM) integrating computed tomography, whole-slide images, and clinical features f...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ruxian Tian, Feng Hou, Haicheng Zhang, Guohua Yu, Ping Yang, Jiaxuan Li, Ting Yuan, Xi Chen, Ying Chen, Yan Hao, Yisong Yao, Hongfei Zhao, Pengyi Yu, Han Fang, Liling Song, Anning Li, Zhonglu Liu, Huaiqing Lv, Dexin Yu, Hongxia Cheng, Ning Mao, Xicheng Song
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:npj Digital Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-025-01712-0
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Accurate prediction of prognosis and postoperative radiotherapy response is critical for personalized treatment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We developed a multimodal deep learning model (MDLM) integrating computed tomography, whole-slide images, and clinical features from 1087 HNSCC patients across multiple centers. The MDLM exhibited good performance in predicting overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival in external test cohorts. Additionally, the MDLM outperformed unimodal models. Patients with a high-risk score who underwent postoperative radiotherapy exhibited prolonged OS compared to those who did not (P = 0.016), whereas no significant improvement in OS was observed among patients with a low-risk score (P = 0.898). Biological exploration indicated that the model may be related to changes in the cytochrome P450 metabolic pathway, tumor microenvironment, and myeloid-derived cell subpopulations. Overall, the MDLM effectively predicts prognosis and postoperative radiotherapy response, offering a promising tool for personalized HNSCC therapy.
ISSN:2398-6352