[Research advances of magnetic resonance elastography for assessing the bioinvasiveness in hepatocellular carcinoma].

The invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is closely correlated with the dynamic changes in the biomechanical microenvironment. The solid (e.g., tissue sclerosis due to stromal fibrosis) and fluid mechanics processes (e.g., disordered interstitial hydraulic gradient) of HCC are significantly aberrant in comparison to normal liver tissue. These mechanical characteristics synergistically promote tumor invasion and metastasis by regulating mechanosensitive pathways and forming an interaction network with key biochemical signals. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), as a non-invasive technique, enables quantitative assessment of the mechanical heterogeneity of HCC by accurately characterizing tissue viscoelastic indices (e.g., shear modulus and loss modulus). Several studies have confirmed that MRE parameters are strongly correlated with tumor differentiation grade, microvascular invasion status, and molecular phenotypes (e.g., high Ki-67 expression and phosphatidylinositol proteoglycan 3 targeting). Furthermore, MRE's quantitative assessment of tumor hardness can provide objective support for prognostic stratification by accurately predicting the likelihood of postoperative recurrence. The non-invasive, reproducible, and quantitative advantages of MRE, which are based on the invasive assessment of HCC, demonstrate its unique clinical value. Multidimensional information in support of conventional imaging and molecular marker evaluation facilitates the early-stage diagnosis, personalized treatment, and dynamic monitoring of HCC.