Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of combining immunohistochemical profiles and metabolic information to characterize breast cancer subtypes.MethodsThis retrospective study included 289 breast tumors from 284 patients who underwent preoperative 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (PET/CT). Molecular subtypes of breast cancer were classified as Hormonal, HER2, Dual (a combination of both Hormonal and HER2 features), and triple-negative (TN). Histopathologic findings and immunohistochemical results for Ki-67, EGFR, CK 5/6, and p53 were also analyzed. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) measured from FDG PET/CT was used to evaluate tumoral glucose metabolism.ResultsOverall, 182, 24, 47, and 36 tumors were classified as Hormonal, HER2, Dual, and TN subtypes, respectively. Molecular profiles of tumor aggressiveness and the tumor SUV revealed a gradual increase from the Hormonal to the TN type. The tumor SUV was significantly correlated with tumor size, expression levels of p53, Ki-67, and EGFR, and nuclear grade (all p < 0.001). In contrast, the tumor SUV was negatively correlated with the expression of estrogen receptors (r = − 0.234, p < 0.001) and progesterone receptors (r = − 0.220, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that histopathologic markers explained tumor glucose metabolism (adjusted R-squared value 0.238, p < 0.001). Tumor metabolism can thus help define breast cancer subtypes with aggressive/adverse prognostic features.ConclusionsMetabolic activity measured using FDG PET/CT was significantly correlated with the molecular alteration profiles of breast cancer assessed using immunohistochemical analysis. Combining molecular markers and metabolic information may aid in the recognition and understanding of tumor aggressiveness in breast cancer and be helpful as a prognostic marker.
Highlights
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women, accounting for about 30 % of newly detected cancer cases in the United States, and is the second leading cause of death from cancer among women [1]
FDG positron emission tomography (PET) could be used to evaluate the overall status of tumor glucose metabolism, which may be related to the prognosis and treatment efficacy of targeted therapies
We have shown that useful information for patient management can be obtained by combining metabolic parameters from FDG PET and pathological classification, it is important to note that our study has several limitations
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women, accounting for about 30 % of newly detected cancer cases in the United States, and is the second leading cause of death from cancer among women [1]. Molecular markers are key to the classification of breast cancer subtypes, the selection of treatment modalities, and prognostic prediction. The expression of estrogen receptors (ER) and/or progesterone receptors (PR) determine the luminal type of breast cancer and the target for anti-hormonal therapy. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression is a marker for HER2-enriched breast cancer and the target for anti-HER2 therapy. The absence of a molecular target (i.e., ER-negative, PR-negative, and HER2-negative) is regarded as a triple-negative (TN) breast cancer subtype that indicates a worse prognosis for the patient [5]. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of combining immunohistochemical profiles and metabolic information to characterize breast cancer subtypes. Molecular subtypes of breast cancer were classified as Hormonal, HER2, Dual (a combination of both Hormonal and HER2 features), and triple-negative (TN). The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) measured from FDG PET/CT was used to evaluate tumoral glucose metabolism
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Cancer imaging : the official publication of the International Cancer Imaging Society
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
