Early prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy using contrast-enhanced ultrasound in breast cancer

Early prediction of non-response is essential in order to avoid inefficient treatments. The objective of this study was to determine the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for early predicting pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer patients. Between March 2018 and October 2019, 93 consecutive patients with histologically proven breast cancer scheduled for NAC were enrolled. Conventional ultrasound and CEUS imaging were performed before NAC and after two cycles of NAC. CEUS parameters were compared with pathologic response. Multiple logistic regression analyses were utilized to explore CEUS parameters to predict pCR, and receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the predictive ability. Therapeutic response was obtained from 25 (27%) patients with pCR and 68 (73%) with non-pCR. Compared to non-pCR, pCR cases have a significantly higher proportion of homogeneous enhancement feature (56% vs 14%, P < .001) and centripetal enhancement (52% vs 23%, P = .012). A significant decrease in peak intensity (PI) was observed after two cycles of NAC. Compared with non-pCR patients, the kinetic parameters PI change (PI%) was higher in pCR patients (P < .001). Multiple logistic regression demonstrated two independent predictors of pCR: internal homogeneity (odds ratio, 4.85; 95% confidence interval: 1.20-19.65; P = .027) and PI% (odds ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.15; P = .007). In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, internal homogeneity and PI%, with area under curve of 0.71 and 0.84, predicted pCR with sensitivity (56%, 95%) and specificity (85%, 70%), respectively. Internal homogeneity and PI% of CEUS may be useful in the noninvasive early prediction of pCR in patients with breast cancer.

Automated summary

This study demonstrated the potential of CEUS in assisting early prediction of pathologic complete response (pCR) in breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Specific CEUS parameters such as internal homogeneity and peak intensity change (PI%) showed predictive ability for pCR, providing a noninvasive approach for early prediction.