Differentiation between Luminal A and B Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer Using Pharmacokinetic Quantitative Parameters with Histogram and Texture Features on Preoperative Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to use pharmacokinetic quantitative parameters with histogram and texture features on dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) to differentiate between the luminal A and luminal B molecular subtypes of breast cancer. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 94 patients with histopathologically proven breast cancer. The pharmacokinetic quantitative parameters (Ktrans, Kep, and Ve) with their corresponding histogram and texture features based on preoperative DCE-MRI were obtained. The parameters were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test between the luminal A and luminal B groups, the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-positive luminal B and HER2-negative luminal B groups, and the lymph node metastasis (LNM)-positive and LNM-negative groups. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for parameters that presented significant between-group differences. The maximum values of Ktrans, Kep, and Ve, and the mean and 90th percentile values of Ve were significantly higher in the luminal B group than in the luminal A group. Among the texture features, only skewness of Ktrans significantly differed between the luminal A and B groups. All histogram features of Ktrans were higher in the HER2-positive luminal B group than in the HER2-negative luminal B group. However, no parameter differed between the LNM-positive and LNM-negative groups. Pharmacokinetic quantitative parameters with histogram and texture features obtained from DCE-MRI are associated with the molecular subtypes of breast cancer, and may serve as potential imaging biomarkers to differentiate between the luminal A and luminal B molecular subtypes.