In vivo detection of resistance to anthracycline based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancer with technetium-99m sestamibi scintimammography

  • Authors:
    • Silvia Mezi
    • Francesca Primi
    • Francesca Capoccetti
    • Francesco Scopinaro
    • Mauro Modesti
    • Orazio Schillaci
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 1, 2003     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.22.6.1233
  • Pages: 1233-1240
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Abstract

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is the treatment of choice in patients (pts) with locally advanced (LABC) and inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). To evaluate the role of Tc-99m sestamibi imaging in the prediction of response to NACT and in the in vivo functional detection of intrinsic or acquired chemoresistance, 24 female pts with LABC (n=21) or IBC (n=3) were prospectively studied. Tc-99m scintimammography was performed 1-3 days before treatment (first) and 2-5 days after the completion (second) of NACT (epirubicin and cyclophosphamide for LABC and doxorubicin and vinorelbine for IBC). Three planar images (2 lateral prone and one anterior supine, 10 min/each) were obtained 10 min postinjection and a lateral prone image (10 min) of the affected breast (B) was obtained at 4 h. To calculate the tumor to normal B ratio (TBR), 2 identical irregular regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn around the tumor (T) and in adjacent ipsilateral normal B on both early (E) and delayed (D) prone lateral images. The TBR was obtained as the ratio of the mean counts per pixels in the 2 ROIs. Then Tc-99m sestamibi retention index (RI) in the T was determined by dividing the D-TBR by the E-TBR. Afterwards, NACT response was assessed pathologically or clinically in inoperable disease. Scintigraphic sensitivity for correct prediction of T presence after NACT was 81% (17/21), whereas specificity for correct prediction of T absence was 100% (3/3). In LABC, 3 patients had a pathological complete response: first RI was high (>0.56) in all 3, while no T uptake was visible on the second scintigraphy. Eighteen patients did not show a pathological complete response: in 5, both first and second RI were low (≤0.56); 9 had high first RI but low second; 4 had high first RI and no T detected on the second scan. In IBC, the only patient with a clinical complete response had both first and second RI high, whereas the 2 non-responsive pts had both first and second RI low. These results indicate that Tc-99m sestamibi scintimammography can predict LABC and IBC response to NACT. The scintigraphy protocol, including 2 studies before and after NACT, is useful for detecting intrinsic and acquired chemoresistant BC in vivo, which is important for planning therapy and predicting prognosis.

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June 2003
Volume 22 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Mezi S, Primi F, Capoccetti F, Scopinaro F, Modesti M and Schillaci O: In vivo detection of resistance to anthracycline based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancer with technetium-99m sestamibi scintimammography. Int J Oncol 22: 1233-1240, 2003
APA
Mezi, S., Primi, F., Capoccetti, F., Scopinaro, F., Modesti, M., & Schillaci, O. (2003). In vivo detection of resistance to anthracycline based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancer with technetium-99m sestamibi scintimammography. International Journal of Oncology, 22, 1233-1240. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.22.6.1233
MLA
Mezi, S., Primi, F., Capoccetti, F., Scopinaro, F., Modesti, M., Schillaci, O."In vivo detection of resistance to anthracycline based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancer with technetium-99m sestamibi scintimammography". International Journal of Oncology 22.6 (2003): 1233-1240.
Chicago
Mezi, S., Primi, F., Capoccetti, F., Scopinaro, F., Modesti, M., Schillaci, O."In vivo detection of resistance to anthracycline based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancer with technetium-99m sestamibi scintimammography". International Journal of Oncology 22, no. 6 (2003): 1233-1240. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.22.6.1233