title: DW-MRI ADC values can predict treatment response in patients with locally advanced breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the importance of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values to predict treatment response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Thirty-two patients with LABC underwent 2-4 cylces of NCT (docetaxel and epirubicin). The DW-MRI scans were performed within one week prior to chemotherapy and after the first course of treatment, respectively. Accordingly, tumor volumes, changes in tumor ADC values, and their degree of correlation were analyzed. The overall response (OR) was observed in 62.5% (95% CI, 45.7-79.3%) of patients after 2 cycles of NCT. The clinical complete response (CR) rate and pathological CR (pCR) rate were 15.6 and 9.4%, respectively. The stable disease (SD) rate was 34.4% (11 patients), and progressive disease (PD) was observed in only one patient (3.1%). After the first cycle of NCT, the ADC values in the CR + PR group significantly increased (P < 0.001). The initial ADC values before chemotherapy in the OR group were significantly lower than those in the SD + PD group (P < 0.001). The initial ADC values and the changes in tumor volume after chemotherapy were negatively correlated (r = -0.58, P = 0.02). The lower the initial tumor ADC value was the more obvious the decrease in tumor volume after chemotherapy. The changes in ADC values of tumors after chemotherapy and the changes in tumor volume were positively correlated (r = 0.96, P < 0.001). After chemotherapy, the greater the change in ADC value, the more the tumor volume was reduced. Using the initial ADC values of breast cancer tumors and the early changes in ADC values after NCT, we may be able to predict tumor response to chemotherapy. Tumors with low initial ADC values may be sensitive to chemotherapy; tumors with significantly increasing ADC values early after chemotherapy may be sensitive to chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast Surgery, Department of General Surgery, General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, No. 28, Fuxing Rd, 100853 Beijing, People's Republic of China. lixr301@163.com
authors.forename: Xi-Ru
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liu-Quan
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yan-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian-Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ai-Lian
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi-Qiong
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin