MRI evaluation of neoadjuvant low-dose fractionated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer

Objectives: We address the diagnostic performance of breast MRI and the efficacy of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy treatment (NRC protocol) vs conventional neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with locally advanced breast cancer.Methods: The NRC protocol consists of six anthracycline/taxane cycles and concomitant low-dose radiotherapy on breast tumour volume. Breast MRI was performed at baseline and after the last therapy cycle in 18 vs 36 patients undergoing the NRC protocol orObjectives: We address the diagnostic performance of breast MRI and the efficacy of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy treatment (NRC protocol) vs conventional neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with locally advanced breast cancer.Methods: The NRC protocol consists of six anthracycline/taxane cycles and concomitant low-dose radiotherapy on breast tumour volume. Breast MRI was performed at baseline and after the last therapy cycle in 18 vs 36 patients undergoing the NRC protocol or conventional NAC (propensity matching).Results: In both groups, we observed reduced tumour dimension after the last cycle (p < 0.001), and the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) class directly correlated with the tumour regression grade (TRG) class after the last cycle (p < 0.001). Patients in the NRC group displayed a higher frequency of complete/partial response vs NAC (p  =  0.034). 17 out of 18 patients in the NRC group met the criteria for avoiding mastectomy based on final MRI evaluation. The RECIST classification displayed a superior diagnostic performance in the prediction of the response to treatment [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC)  =  0.72] vs time-to-intensity curves and ADC (AUC 0.63 and 0.61). The association of the three above criteria yielded a better diagnostic performance, both in the general population (AUC  =  0.79) and in the NRC vs the NAC group separately (AUC  =  0.82 and AUC  =  0.76).Conclusions: The pathological response is predicted by MRI performed after the last cycle, if both conventional MRI and diffusion imaging are integrated. The NRC treatment yields superior oncologic results than NAC.Advances in knowledge: MRI could be used to establish the neoadjuvant protocol in breast cancer patients. conventional NAC (propensity matching).Results: In both groups, we observed reduced tumour dimension after the last cycle (p < 0.001), and the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) class directly correlated with the tumour regression grade (TRG) class after the last cycle (p < 0.001). Patients in the NRC group displayed a higher frequency of complete/partial response vs NAC (p  =  0.034). 17 out of 18 patients in the NRC group met the criteria for avoiding mastectomy based on final MRI evaluation. The RECIST classification displayed a superior diagnostic performance in the prediction of the response to treatment [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC)  =  0.72] vs time-to-intensity curves and ADC (AUC 0.63 and 0.61). The association of the three above criteria yielded a better diagnostic performance, both in the general population (AUC  =  0.79) and in the NRC vs the NAC group separately (AUC  =  0.82 and AUC  =  0.76).Conclusions: The pathological response is predicted by MRI performed after the last cycle, if both conventional MRI and diffusion imaging are integrated. The NRC treatment yields superior oncologic results than NAC.Advances in knowledge: MRI could be used to establish the neoadjuvant protocol in breast cancer patients.