MRI-Based Radiomics Reveals Cannabinoid-Associated Tumor Phenotypes in a Murine Breast Cancer Model

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: THC full extract, exhibit diverse and potentially subtle effects on tumor biology. Radiomics enables high-throughput extraction of quantitative imaging features that capture intratumoral heterogeneity beyond gross tumor volume. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of MRI-based radiomics as a sensitive tool for detecting cannabinoid-associated tumor phenotypic modulation in a preclinical breast cancer model. METHODS: Orthotopic breast tumors were induced in mice using the 4T1 cell line. Animals received cannabinoid formulations in combination with chemotherapy according to a predefined protocol. Tumor burden was assessed at baseline and post-treatment using ultrasonography and whole-body MRI to calculate tumor doubling time. T1- and T2-weighted MRI datasets were segmented and analyzed using radiomics to extract morphometric and signal-based features. RESULTS: THC full extract. In contrast, radiomics identified distinct, compound-specific tumor phenotypes, including structural features consistent with reduced aggressiveness, in JWH-182-treated tumors, despite similar volumetric growth patterns. CONCLUSION: MRI-based radiomics sensitively captures cannabinoid-associated tumor phenotype alterations beyond volumetric assessment, supporting its value as a pharmaco-imaging tool for characterizing treatment-related tumor biology in preclinical oncology.