Multiple-parameter MRI after neoadjuvant systemic therapy combining clinicopathologic features in evaluating axillary pathologic complete response in patients with clinically node-positive breast cancer

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate axillary pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) in clinically node-positive breast cancer (BC) patients based on post-NST multiple-parameter MRI and clinicopathological characteristics. Methods: In this retrospective study, females with clinically node-positive BC who received NST and followed by surgery between January 2017 and September 2021 were included. All axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) on MRI were matched with pathology by ALN markers or sizes. MRI morphological parameters, signal intensity curve (TIC) patterns and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of post-NST ALNs were measured. The clinicopathological characteristics was also collected and analyzed. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the independent predictors of axillary pCR. Results: Pathologically confirmed 137 non-pCR ALNs in 71 patients and 87 pCR ALNs in 87 patients were included in this study. Cortical thickness, fatty hilum, and TIC patterns of ALNs, hormone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status were significantly different between the two groups (all, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference for ADC values (p = 0.875). On multivariable analysis, TIC patterns (odds ratio [OR], 2.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33, 5.34, p = 0.006), fatty hilum (OR, 2.88, 95% CI:1.39, 5.98, p = 0.004), hormone receptor (OR, 8.40, 95% CI: 2.48, 28.38, p = 0.001) and HER2 status (OR, 8.57, 95% CI: 3.85, 19.08, p < 0.001) were identified as independent predictors associated with axillary pCR. The area under the curve of the multivariate analysis using these predictors was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.79, 0.91). Conclusion: Combining post-NST multiple-parameter MRI and clinicopathological characteristics allowed more accurate identification of BC patients who had received axillary pCR after NST. Advances in knowledge: A combined model incorporated multiple-parameter MRI and clinicopathologic features demonstrated good performance in evaluating axillary pCR preoperatively and non-invasively.