Correlation of diffusion weighted apparent diffusion coefficient values with immunochemical prognostic factors of breast carcinoma

Abstract

Context: Classic prognostic markers in breast cancer are tumor size and grade, lymph node status, molecular markers, including estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), Ki-67 index, human growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein, and angiogenic molecular markers. Purpose of present study is to assess the utility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the prognosis of breast cancer by correlating them with molecular biomarkers. Aim: To correlate the ADC values of DWI of Breast cancer with immunochemical prognostic factors. Settings and Design: Retrospective observational study. Materials and Methods: Ours is a retrospective study of 30 female cases of histologically proven breast carcinoma who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of breast in Tertiary healthcare centre, Andhra Pradesh. Molecular prognostic factors data were available for 20 cases which were further analyzed. Statistical Analysis Used: Correlation between the ADC value of the breast tumour and molecular prognostic markers was analyzed using Student's t test. Results: Mean ADC of Ki-67 index positive cancers (0.755 × 10 - 3 ± 0.158 × 10 - 3mm2/s) was significantly lower than Ki-67 index negative cancers (0.929 × 10-3 ± 0.117 × 10 - 3mm2/s) suggesting statistically significant correlation between ADC value and Ki67 index. There is no significant correlation between ADC value and ER, PR, and HER2 expression status. Conclusion: Our study showed statistically significant association between ADC values and Ki-67 index. Thus ADC values may be of use in providing prognostic information about disease.