Association of the imaging characteristics of desmoplasia on digital breast tomosynthesis and the Ki-67 proliferation index in invasive breast cancer

Abstract

Aim To evaluate the imaging characteristics of desmoplasia on digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and their association with the Ki-67 index. Methods Seventy-seven malignant spiculated breast masses were analyzed in terms of tumor size, length and width of spicules, coverage of tumor margin with spicules, and the number of spicules. The Ki-67 index was obtained from surgically removed tumor specimens. Results The average spicule length was significantly negatively associated with a high Ki-67 ( P = 0.005, odds ratio [OR] 0.252, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.094–0.676), ie, the lesions with longer spicules had a 3.968 times lower odds of having a high Ki-67 than the lesions with shorter spicules. The average spicule width at the base was significantly positively associated with Ki-67 ( P = 0.004, OR 3.939, 95% CI 1.520–10.209), ie, the lesions with thick spicules had a 3.939 times higher odds of having a high Ki-67 than the lesions with thin spicules. The lesions with more than 20 spicules and those with partially spiculated margins more frequently had a high Ki-67 than those with fewer spicules and fully spiculated margins, but the differences were not significant.

Spatial Configurations of 3D Extracellular Matrix Collagen Density and Anisotropy Simultaneously Guide Angiogenesis

“…These vessels would be susceptible to recruitment by tumor cells, suggesting that TACS-2 increases the odds of vascular invasion by recruiting vessels to the tumor interface. We also investigated the effects of TACS-3, which is characterized by spiculated collagen fibrils radiating outward from the tumor and poor prognoses [ 57 ]. TACS-3 is presumed to emerge due to outward cell migration from the tumor or intense radial contractions by the tumor [ 13 , 56 ].…”