Correlation study between the magnetic resonance imaging features of breast cancer and expression of immune molecular subtypes

Objective To investigate the correlation between breast cancer magnetic resonance imaging features and immune molecular subtypes. Patients and methods A total of 129 breast cancer patients were selected as the research object. All the patients were diagnosed by histopathology. All of them had breast magnetic resonance imaging and examination data of immunohistochemical (IHC) ER, PR, HER-2, and Ki-67. The correlation of breast cancer magnetic resonance imaging features with different immune molecular subtypes was retrospectively analyzed. Results Breast cancer is divided into different molecular subtypes. There were 72 cases with Luminal A type (55.81%), 20 cases with Luminal B type (15.50%), 14 cases with HER-2+ type (HER-2 type for over-expression) (10.85%), 23 cases with TNBC type (ER, PR and HER-2 were negative) (17.84%). The magnetic resonance imaging features of breast cancer were included, the post-enhanced morphology, margins, internal enhancement features, time-signal intensity curve (TIC) and molecular subtype expression of lesions were significantly correlated with the immune molecular subtypes (C=0.602, 0.439, 0.350 and 0.407, p=0.000, 0.000, 0.006 and 0.000). Lesion morphology: Luminal A type was mainly oval, accounting for 76.39% (55/76). Luminal B type and HER-2+ type was mainly irregular, accounting for 75.00% (15/20) and 64.29% (9/14) respectively. TNBC type was mainly shown as lobulation, accounting for 60.87% (14/23). Margin of the lesion: Luminal A type was mainly smooth margin, accounting for 73.61% (53/72). Luminal B type and TNBC type were mainly irregular margin, accounting for 70.00% (14/20) and 56.52% (13/23) respectively. The margin of HER-2+ type was mainly spiculation, accounting for 64.29% (9/14). The internal enhancement features: Luminal A type was mainly even enhancement, accounting for 62.50% (45/72). Luminal B type and HER-2+ type were mainly heterogeneous enhancement, accounting for 65.00% (13/20) and 64.29% (9/14) respectively. TNBC type was mainly annular enhancement, accounting for 73.91% (17/23). TIC type: Luminal A type was mainly Type II, accounting for 66.67% (48/72). Luminal B, HER-2+ type and TNBC type was mainly Type III, accounting for 70.00% (14/20), 64.29% (9/14) and 60.87% (14/23) respectively. The clinical signs include painless breast lumps, bloody breast discharge, and orange peel-like skin changes, nipple retraction and nipple elevation. There is no significant correlation between the above signs and the expression of molecular subtypes (C=0.014, 0.129, 0.154, 0.097 and 0.057, p=0.999, 0.533, 0.447, 0.747 and 0.935 respectively), the difference is not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusions The characteristics of breast cancer magnetic resonance imaging was certainly correlated with the expression of immune molecular subtypes. The breast cancer molecular subtypes can be predicted by the imaging signs, which can provide valuable information for preoperative neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer.