Predicting Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response by Using a Combined MRI and Scinti-Mammography (MRI-SMM) System

The optimal goal of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer is to achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) with the least toxicity. As more effective therapies become available, one challenge is how to evaluate the response of tumor in a timely manner, so an optimal regimen can be given to the patient. Reliable imaging methods that can monitor and predict NAC response are needed. MRI is known as the most accurate imaging modality to evaluate the response to NAC based on tumor shrinkage, but so far there is no reliable parameter that can be measured at early times after the administration of drugs to predict the final treatment outcome. Furthermore, some patients may have contradiction to receive MRI, or cannot tolerate the long scan time in a prone position. Other imaging modalities that can measure early functional (particularly metabolic) changes are being investigated, and have shown some success. In this study investigators will assess the role of an MR-compatible scinti-mammography (MRI-SMM) system for monitoring and predicting NAC response. A total of 75 breast cancer patients receiving NAC will be enrolled, and each subject will receive 3 imaging studies before, during, and after completing NAC. The aims are: 1) to compare the tumor size measured by SMM and MRI at different times; 2) to evaluate the respective diagnostic accuracy of the post-NAC residual disease measured by SMM and MRI by comparing to pathological examination results as the gold standard; 3) to investigate the respective and combined ability of MRI and SMM, based on pre-treatment and early changes in the first follow-up imaging, for predicting pathologic complete response (pCR). The diagnostic results obtained using MRI and SMM from tumors of varying stages at different times during NAC will provide important information for establishing the role of a standalone SMM system, as well as the combined MRI-SMM system, for management of breast cancer patients.