Method for quantitative assessment of tumor volume response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy using MRI

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is an effective treatment for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Response of a tumor to preoperative chemotherapy is a valuable predictor of a patient's overall survival. We hypothesize that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be more predictive of patient outcome than clinical examination by providing quantitative assessments of the extent of cancer in the breast and the change in response to neoadjuvant treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether MRI can accurately quantify changes in tumor size in response to treatment. MRI size measurements were compared to clinical response assessments and post-surgical pathology data in a group of women with LABC. The MR techniques accurately characterized the size of the residual disease in the breast and demonstrated predictive value for treatment outcome.