Dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MRI features correlate with invasive breast cancer angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a critical component of breast cancer development, and identification of imaging-based angiogenesis assays has prognostic and treatment implications. We evaluated the association of semi-quantitative kinetic and radiomic breast cancer features on dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI with microvessel density (MVD), a marker for angiogenesis. Invasive breast cancer kinetic features (initial peak percent enhancement [PE], signal enhancement ratio [SER], functional tumor volume [FTV], and washout fraction [WF]), radiomics features (108 total features reflecting tumor morphology, signal intensity, and texture), and MVD (by histologic CD31 immunostaining) were measured in 27 patients (1/2016-7/2017). Lesions with high MVD levels demonstrated higher peak SER than lesions with low MVD (mean: 1.94 vs. 1.61, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC]=0.79, p=0.009) and higher WF (mean: 50.6% vs. 22.5%, AUC=0.87, p=0.001). Several radiomics texture features were also promising for predicting increased MVD (maximum AUC=0.84, p=0.002). Our study suggests DCE-MRI can non-invasively assess breast cancer angiogenesis, which could stratify biology and optimize treatments.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the association of breast cancer features on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI with MVD, a marker for angiogenesis. Lesions with high MVD levels showed higher peak SER and WF, and some radiomics texture features were promising in predicting increased MVD. DCE-MRI can non-invasively assess breast cancer angiogenesis, which could help optimize treatments based on tumor biology.