Aims and objectives
Molecular subtypes of breast cancer have been useful in predicting prognosis and optimizing medical oncologic treatment and can be approximated by assessing combined estrogen,
progesterone,
and HER2 receptor status [1,
2].
Opto-acoustic (OA) imaging is a fusion of real time co-registered,
interleaved laser optic and ultrasound imaging that shows dual functional findings (relative de-oxygenation of hemoglobin) and morphologic information (tumor angiogenesis) within and around breast masses using a hand-held opto-acoustic probe [3].
The goal is for OA to help distinguish benign from malignant lesions and...
Methods and materials
Histologic specimens from excisional biopsy in 22 subjects with malignant breast masses were assessed and compared to OA imaging that was done prior to both core biopsy and excision.
ER,PR,
and HER2status from the excisional biopsy histology were used to approximate the molecular subtype.
The three internal OA findings (density of vascularity,
relative blood oxygen saturation,
and total blood accumulation) and two external OA findings (total blood and peri-tumoral radiating vessels)were assigned qualitative scores from 0-5.The internal scores were summed to obtain an OA internal...
Results
There was a weak positive correlation (0.355) between theOA internal total score and the molecular subtype (p=0.074,
one-sided correlation test).
Luminal A subtype had the lowest meanOA internal total score and the triple negative subtype had the highest meanOA internal total score (Figures 1 and 2).
There was a strong inverse correlation (-0.507) between theOA external total score and molecular subtype (p=0.016,
one-sided correlation test).Luminal A lesions had the highest meanOA external total score (Figures 3 and 4) and HER2 and triple negative subtypes were...
Conclusion
While the preliminary feasibility study results indicate that OA findings demonstrate a correlation with molecular subtypes,
which could have some value in predicting molecular subtype,
further evaluation is needed.
If confirmed in a larger series of breast cancer patients,
OA findings might be useful in differentiating and monitoring early response to medical oncologic treatments.
References
1.
Engstrøm MJ,
Opdahl S,
et al.
Molecular subtypes,
histopathological grade and survival in a historic cohort of breast cancer patients.
Breast Cancer Res Treat 2013; 140:463–473.
2.
Schnitt SJ.
Classification and prognosis of invasive breast cancer: from
morphology to molecular taxonomy.
Modern Pathology 2010; 23:S60–S64.
3.
Butler RS,
Stavros AT,
et al.
Opto-acoustic breast imaging - A novel fusion of functional and morphologic imaging.
Presented at: Radiological Society of North America; 2013 Dec 4; Chicago,
IL.