Abstract
METHODS
This retrospective observational cohort study included 35 ER+/HER2- patients with 38 tumors (3 bilateral cases) treated with NET. The pre- and midtreatment (after 3 months) MRIs were evaluated by two breast radiologists for BIRADS imaging characteristics, shrinkage pattern, and radiologic response. PEPI was used as end point. PEPI is based on the post-treatment surgical specimen's pT- and pN-stage, Ki67, and ER-status. Tumors were assigned PEPI-1 (good prognosis) or PEPI-2/3 (poor prognosis). We investigated whether pre- and midtreatment BIRADS characteristics were associated with PEPI.
CONCLUSION
Only a larger reduction in tumor size on MRI after 3 months of NET was associated with PEPI-1 (good prognosis) in ER+/HER2- breast cancer patients.
RESULTS
Median patient age was 65 years (interquartile interval [IQI]: 53, 70). 17 tumors (44.7%) were associated with good prognosis (PEPI-1), and 21 tumors (55.3%) with poor prognosis (PEPI-2/3). A larger reduction in tumor size after 3 months of NET was significantly associated with PEPI; 10 mm (IQI: 5, 13.5) in PEPI-1 tumors vs 4.5 mm (IQI: 3, 7; p = .045) in PEPI-2/3 tumors. Other BIRADS characteristics, shrinkage pattern or radiologic response were not associated with PEPI.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether BIRADS MRI characteristics before or during neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) are associated with the preoperative endocrine prognostic index (PEPI) in ER+/HER2- breast cancer patients.
ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE
MRI characteristics previously reported to be associated with prognosis during neoadjuvant chemotherapy are not necessarily associated with prognosis during NET in ER+/HER2- breast cancer patients.