Quantitative habitat concentration analysis of triple negative breast cancer on MRI correlates with pathologic response to combination neoadjuvant immuno/chemotherapy

Abstract

Objective

To determine if quantitative volumetric habitat concentration analysis of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) on pre-treatment MRI correlates with neoadjuvant treatment response in patients treated with combination Talimogene Laherparepvec (TVEC) neoadjuvant immunotherapy and chemotherapy (NAIC).

Methods

Patients with TNBC in a single institution phase I/II trial from 5/2017–9/2020 underwent pre-treatment breast MRI followed by ultrasound-guided intratumoral TVEC injections and NAC prior to surgery. Pre-treatment MRIs were evaluated quantitatively using functional tumor volume (FTV) assessment and temporal voxel intensity categorization (high vs low plus phase of peak) to establish percentage habitat concentrations (%HC) for each quantitative method. These were correlated with pathologic response at surgery. Statistical analyses were performed using Mann Whitney U and comparison of proportions tests, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results

Twenty-five female patients, aged 32–66 (avg 49), were included. Average %FTV and %High-Enhancement Volume (HEV) was 75.7 % and 87.1 %, respectively. Twelve patients (48 %) achieved pCR. On average, patients achieving pCR had higher %FTV (84.8 % vs 67.4 %, p = 0.022) and %HEV (93.3 % vs 81.3 %, p = 0.010). Patients with %HC above average for FTV and HEV also had lower average percent tumor cellularity (TC, 1 and 1.1 % vs 14.3 and 17.1 %, p = 0.023 and 0.003, respectively). Indeed, tumors with above average %FTV and %HEV achieved pCR in 71 % (10/14) and 69 % (11/16), respectively. In contrast, those below average achieved pCR in only 18 % (2/11) and 11 % (1/9), with p = 0.008 and 0.006, respectively.

Conclusion

Above-average concentration of functional tumor/high enhancement voxels within tumors before NAIC correlates with higher pCR rates and lower %TC at surgery.