Correlations between diffusion-weighted imaging and breast cancer biomarkers

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Biomedical Imaging

Background:

• Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is an MRI technique that measures water molecule diffusion.
• The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) quantifies this diffusion and can reflect tissue microstructural characteristics.
• Understanding how ADC relates to breast cancer biology is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between ADC values and various biological features of breast cancer.
• To determine if ADC can differentiate between intrinsic subtypes of breast cancer.

Main Methods:

• DWI was performed on 190 patients with breast cancer undergoing MRI.
• ADC values were correlated with histopathological features (size, type, grade) and immunohistochemical markers (ER, Ki-67, HER2).
• ADC was compared across intrinsic subtypes: Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-enriched, and triple-negative.

Main Results:

• A significant correlation was found between ADC values and estrogen receptor (ER) expression.
• Median ADC values were higher in ER-negative tumors compared to ER-positive tumors.
• HER2-enriched breast cancers exhibited the highest median ADC values, significantly higher than Luminal A and Luminal B/HER2-negative subtypes.

Conclusions:

• ADC values are significantly influenced by the biological characteristics of breast cancer.
• DWI, through ADC measurements, can potentially identify biological heterogeneity in breast neoplasms.
• This knowledge may enhance the interpretation of breast MRI findings and improve diagnostic accuracy.