Cancers, Vol. 17, Pages 1626: Assessing Ultrasound as a Tool for Monitoring Tumor Regression During Chemotherapy: Insights from a Cohort of Breast Cancer Patients

Cancers doi: 10.3390/cancers17101626

Authors:
Vlad Bogdan Varzaru
Aurica Elisabeta Moatar
Roxana Popescu
Daniela Puscasiu
Daliborca Cristina Vlad
Cristian Sebastian Vlad
Andreas Rempen
Ionut Marcel Cobec

Background/Objectives: Accurate assessment of tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer is critical for optimizing treatment strategies. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammography are commonly used for response evaluation, they have inherent limitations. Ultrasound (US) has emerged as a promising, cost-effective, and real-time alternative. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of US in tracking tumor regression during NAC and its correlation with pathologic tumor regression grade (TRG). Methods: This study included 282 breast cancer patients undergoing NAC. Tumor size was measured using ultrasound at three key time points: pre-chemotherapy, after four cycles, and post-chemotherapy. Spearman’s correlation was used to assess the relationship between US-measured tumor changes and TRG. Multinomial logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine the predictive accuracy of the measurements from our US in identifying pathologic complete response (pCR). Conclusions: Ultrasound is a reliable, real-time imaging tool for monitoring NAC response in breast cancer patients. Its ability to predict pCR and track tumor shrinkage highlights its potential for treatment adaptation. Standardization of US protocols and integration with AI-based analysis may further improve its clinical utility, making it a valuable adjunct in breast cancer treatment monitoring.

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Vlad Bogdan Varzaru www.mdpi.com