Background <p>Radiomics models frequently face challenges related to reproducibility and robustness. To address these issues, we propose a multimodal, multi-model fusion framework utilizing stacking ensemble learning for prognostic prediction in head and neck cancer (HNC). This approach seeks to improve the accuracy and reliability of survival predictions.</p> Methods <p>A total of 806 cases from nine centers were collected; 143 cases from two centers were assigned as the external validation cohort, while the remaining 663 were stratified and randomly split into training (<i>n</i> = 530) and internal validation (<i>n</i> = 133) sets. Radiomics features were extracted according to IBSI standards, and deep learning features were obtained using a 3D DenseNet-121 model. Following feature selection, the selected features were input into Cox, SVM, RSF, DeepCox, and DeepSurv models. A stacking fusion strategy was employed to develop the prognostic model. Model performance was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and time-dependent ROC curves.</p> Results <p>On the external validation set, the model using combined PET and CT radiomics features achieved superior performance compared to single-modality models, with the RSF model obtaining the highest concordance index (C-index) of 0.7302. When using deep features extracted by 3D DenseNet-121, the PET + CT-based models demonstrated significantly improved prognostic accuracy, with Deepsurv and DeepCox achieving C-indices of 0.9217 and 0.9208, respectively. In stacking models, the PET + CT model using only radiomics features reached a C-index of 0.7324, while the deep feature-based stacking model achieved 0.9319. The best performance was obtained by the multi-feature fusion model, which integrated both radiomics and deep learning features from PET and CT, yielding a C-index of 0.9345. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis further confirmed the fusion model’s ability to distinguish between high-risk and low-risk groups.</p> Conclusion <p>The stacking-based ensemble model demonstrates superior performance compared to individual machine learning models, markedly improving the robustness of prognostic predictions.</p>

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A stacking ensemble framework integrating radiomics and deep learning for prognostic prediction in head and neck cancer

  • Bingzhen Wang,
  • Jinghua Liu,
  • Xiaolei Zhang,
  • Jianpeng Lin,
  • Shuyan Li,
  • Zhongxiao Wang,
  • Zhendong Cao,
  • Dong Wen,
  • Tiange Liu,
  • Hafiz Rashidi Harun Ramli,
  • Hazreen Haizi Harith,
  • Wan Zuha Wan Hasan,
  • Xianling Dong

摘要

Background

Radiomics models frequently face challenges related to reproducibility and robustness. To address these issues, we propose a multimodal, multi-model fusion framework utilizing stacking ensemble learning for prognostic prediction in head and neck cancer (HNC). This approach seeks to improve the accuracy and reliability of survival predictions.

Methods

A total of 806 cases from nine centers were collected; 143 cases from two centers were assigned as the external validation cohort, while the remaining 663 were stratified and randomly split into training (n = 530) and internal validation (n = 133) sets. Radiomics features were extracted according to IBSI standards, and deep learning features were obtained using a 3D DenseNet-121 model. Following feature selection, the selected features were input into Cox, SVM, RSF, DeepCox, and DeepSurv models. A stacking fusion strategy was employed to develop the prognostic model. Model performance was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and time-dependent ROC curves.

Results

On the external validation set, the model using combined PET and CT radiomics features achieved superior performance compared to single-modality models, with the RSF model obtaining the highest concordance index (C-index) of 0.7302. When using deep features extracted by 3D DenseNet-121, the PET + CT-based models demonstrated significantly improved prognostic accuracy, with Deepsurv and DeepCox achieving C-indices of 0.9217 and 0.9208, respectively. In stacking models, the PET + CT model using only radiomics features reached a C-index of 0.7324, while the deep feature-based stacking model achieved 0.9319. The best performance was obtained by the multi-feature fusion model, which integrated both radiomics and deep learning features from PET and CT, yielding a C-index of 0.9345. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis further confirmed the fusion model’s ability to distinguish between high-risk and low-risk groups.

Conclusion

The stacking-based ensemble model demonstrates superior performance compared to individual machine learning models, markedly improving the robustness of prognostic predictions.