Breast MRI and tumour biology predict axillary lymph node response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Background: In patients who have had axillary nodal metastasis diagnosed prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer, there is little consensus on how to manage the axilla subsequently. The aim of this study was to explore whether a combination of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessed response and primary tumour pathology factors could identify a subset of patients that might be spared axillary node clearance.

Methods: A retrospective data analysis was performed of patients with core biopsy-proven axillary nodal metastasis prior to commencement of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) who had subsequent axillary node clearance (ANC) at definitive breast surgery.

Breast cancer: influence of tumour volume estimation method at MRI on prediction of pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective: Does method of tumour volume measurement on MRI influence prediction of treatment outcome in patients with primary breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC)?.

Method: The study comprised of 136 women with biopsy-proven breast cancer scheduled for MRI monitoring during NAC treatment. Dynamic contrast-enhanced images were acquired at baseline (pre-NAC) and interim (post three NAC cycles) time points.