Value of Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Elastography for Wnt/β-catenin Pathway Activation and MVI Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Motivation: Non-invasive detection of MVI and Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation remains challenging for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Goal(s): To investigate Wnt/β-catenin pathway and MVI expression in HCC using preoperative magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Approach: Totally, 210 HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy were recruited for preoperative MRE and recurrence-free survival was documented. Tumor c and φ value represented tissue stiffness and viscosity, respectively. Results: The silence of Wnt/β-catenin pathway and the presence of MVI-positivity were markedly prone to postoperative recrudescence. Besides, an increased tumor c value was identified as independent risk factors for Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation, while a decreased tumor c value was strongly linked to MVI-positivity. Impact: This study focuses on the contribution of biomechanics to HCC aggressiveness within the context of signal pathways and tumor microenvironment, and on clinical significances of integrating MRE into clinical practice for optimizing treatment decisions and enhancing risk stratification in HCC.