Progression Free Survival Prediction for Head and Neck Cancer Using Deep Learning Based on Clinical and PET/CT Imaging Data

Mohamed A. Naser, Kareem A. Wahid, Abdallah S.R. Mohamed, Moamen Abobakr Abdelaal, Renjie He, Cem Dede, Lisanne V. van Dijk, Clifton D. Fuller

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Determining progression-free survival (PFS) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients is a challenging but pertinent task that could help stratify patients for improved overall outcomes. PET/CT images provide a rich source of anatomical and metabolic data for potential clinical biomarkers that would inform treatment decisions and could help improve PFS. In this study, we participate in the 2021 HECKTOR Challenge to predict PFS in a large dataset of HNSCC PET/CT images using deep learning approaches. We develop a series of deep learning models based on the DenseNet architecture using a negative log-likelihood loss function that utilizes PET/CT images and clinical data as separate input channels to predict PFS in days. Internal model validation based on 10-fold cross-validation using the training data (N = 224) yielded C-index values up to 0.622 (without) and 0.842 (with) censoring status considered in C-index computation, respectively. We then implemented model ensembling approaches based on the training data cross-validation folds to predict the PFS of the test set patients (N = 101). External validation on the test set for the best ensembling method yielded a C-index value of 0.694, placing 2nd in the competition. Our results are a promising example of how deep learning approaches can effectively utilize imaging and clinical data for medical outcome prediction in HNSCC, but further work in optimizing these processes is needed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationHead and Neck Tumor Segmentation and Outcome Prediction - 2nd Challenge, HECKTOR 2021, Held in Conjunction with MICCAI 2021, Proceedings
EditorsVincent Andrearczyk, Valentin Oreiller, Mathieu Hatt, Adrien Depeursinge
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages287-299
Number of pages13
ISBN (Print)9783030982522
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022
Event2nd 3D Head and Neck Tumor Segmentation in PET/CT Challenge, HECKTOR 2021, held in conjunction with 24th International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention, MICCAI 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: Sep 27 2021Sep 27 2021

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume13209 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference2nd 3D Head and Neck Tumor Segmentation in PET/CT Challenge, HECKTOR 2021, held in conjunction with 24th International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention, MICCAI 2021
CityVirtual, Online
Period9/27/219/27/21

Keywords

  • CT
  • Deep learning
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Oropharyngeal cancer
  • Outcome prediction model
  • PET
  • Progression-free survival

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • General Computer Science

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