Is There a Correlation between Multiparametric Assessment in Ultrasound and Intrinsic Subtype of Breast Cancer?

Abstract

Molecular profile of breast cancer provides information about its biological activity, prognosis and treatment strategies. The purpose of our study was to investigate the correlation between ultrasound features and molecular subtypes of breast cancer. From June 2019 to December 2019, 86 patients (median age 57 years; range 32–88) with 102 breast cancer tumors were included in the study. The molecular subtypes were classified into five types: luminal A (LA), luminal B without HER2 overexpression (LB HER2−), luminal B with HER2 overexpression (LB HER2+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Histopathological verification was obtained in core biopsy or/and post-surgery specimens in all cases. Univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between the subtypes and ultrasound imaging features. Experienced radiologists assessed lesions according to the BIRADS-US lexicon. The ultrasound scans were performed with a Supersonic Aixplorer and Supersonix. Based on histopathological verification, the rates of LA, LB HER2−, LB HER2+, HER2+, and TNBC were 33, 17, 17, 16, 19, respectively. Both LB HER2+ and HER2+ subtypes presented higher incidence of calcification (OR = 3.125, p = 0.02, CI 0.0917–5.87) and HER2+ subtype presented a higher incidence of posterior enhancement (OR = 5.75, p = 0.03, CI 1.2257–32.8005), compared to other subtypes. The calcifications were less common in TNBC (OR = 0.176, p = 0.0041, CI 0.0469–0.5335) compared to other subtypes. There were no differences with regard to margin, shape, orientation, elasticity values and vascularity among five molecular subtypes. Our results suggest that there is a correlation between ultrasonographic features assessed according to BIRADS-US lexicon and BC subtypes with HER2 overexpression (both LB HER2+ and HER2+). It may be useful for identification of these aggressive subtypes of breast cancer.