Intratumoral spatial heterogeneity at perfusion MR imaging predicts recurrence-free survival in locally advanced breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Purpose: To characterize intratumoral spatial heterogeneity at perfusion magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and investigate intratumoral heterogeneity as a predictor of recurrence-free survival (RFS) in breast cancer. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, a discovery cohort (n = 60) and a multicenter validation cohort (n = 186) were analyzed. Each tumor was divided into multiple spatially segregated, phenotypically consistent subregions on the basis of perfusion MR imaging parameters. The authors first defined a multiregional spatial interaction (MSI) matrix and then, based on this matrix, calculated 22 image features. A network strategy was used to integrate all image features and classify patients into different risk groups. The prognostic value of imaging-based stratification was evaluated in relation to clinical-pathologic factors with multivariable Cox regression. Results: Three intratumoral subregions with high, intermediate, and low MR perfusion were identified and showed high consistency between the two cohorts. Patients in both cohorts were stratified according to network analysis of multiregional image features regarding RFS (log-rank test, P = .002 for both). Aggressive tumors were associated with a larger volume of the poorly perfused subregion as well as interaction between poorly and moderately perfused subregions and surrounding parenchyma. At multivariable analysis, the proposed MSI-based marker was independently associated with RFS (hazard ratio: 3.42; 95% confidence interval: 1.55, 7.57; P = .002) adjusting for age, estrogen receptor (ER) status, progesterone receptor status, human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) status, tumor volume, and pathologic complete response (pCR). Furthermore, imaging helped stratify patients for RFS within the ER-positive and HER2-positive subgroups (log-rank test, P = .007 and .004) and among patients without pCR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (log-rank test, P = .003). Conclusion: Breast cancer consists of multiple spatially distinct subregions. Imaging heterogeneity is an independent prognostic factor beyond traditional risk predictors.