Thermal tomography for monitoring tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with locally advanced breast cancer

Abstract

Background & AimsThis study aims to analyze the feasibility and predictive value of thermal tomography (TT) for monitoring early treatment response in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).MethodsPatients with LABC who were due to receive six cycles of NAC were examined by TT prior to NAC, the second cycle of NAC, the fourth cycle of NAC and surgery. Changes in TT parameters and ultrasonography were correlated with pathologic response to NAC, and the predictive value was assessed.ResultsForty-four patients were evaluable for response (25 pathologic responders and 19 nonresponders). As early as after the first cycle of NAC, changes in the TT parameters ΔTs, ΔTn, and ΔTa correlated significantly with pathologic response (P < 0.05). The best predictor of pathologic response after the 6th cycle of NAC was TT (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.794), as opposed to cross-sectional areas and the longest diameter by ultrasonography.ConclusionsTT allows for monitoring early tumor response to NAC and can predict pathologic response in the early stages of therapy. Therefore, TT could be used as a novel imaging modality to monitor NAC treatment.

Risk of breast cancer based on thermal tomography characteristics

“…For breast cancer, in addition to being used as a screening tool, TT can also be used to monitor tumour responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy ( 27 ). The q-r curve is a curve that reflects heat intensity varying with depth of tomography and the difference in temperature between the lesion and the surrounding tissue.…”

Termografia como Ferramenta de Avaliação Durante o Tratamento Neoadjuvante para Câncer de Mama

“…Posteriormente, o uso da termografia foi investigado por [Wu et al 2017] para acompanhar a resposta do tumor durante o tratamento quimioterápico em mulheres com câncer de mama localmente avanc ¸ado. Os autores examinaram as mudanc ¸as de temperatura média da mama durante os ciclos de tratamento.…”

“…A termografia tem sido usada em alguns estudos para triagem ou diagnóstico do câncer de mama [Kashyap et al 2020, Ekici and Jawzal 2020, Wu et al 2017, Resmini et al 2021] e outras doenc ¸as [Bahramian and Mojra 2020, Polidori et al 2017, Etehadtavakol and Ng 2017, Moran et al 2018. No entanto, um número limitado de estudos investiga este exame para monitorar o progresso dos pacientes com câncer de mama e avaliar suas respostas tumorais à terapia neoadjuvante.…”

Identification of UCP1 and UCP2 as Potential Prognostic Markers in Breast Cancer: A Study Based on Immunohistochemical Analysis and Bioinformatics

“…Previous experiments confirm that the q-r curve of most BC patients is between 30° and 45°, while that for most benign BC patients is between 15° and 30° ( Shi et al, 2015 ). Thermal tomography has been used for early screening of BC ( Sun et al, 2019 ) and monitoring of drug efficacy in the initial stages ( Wu et al, 2017 ). However, thermal tomography is ineffective in some patients ( Wu et al, 2017 ).…”

“…Thermal tomography has been used for early screening of BC ( Sun et al, 2019 ) and monitoring of drug efficacy in the initial stages ( Wu et al, 2017 ). However, thermal tomography is ineffective in some patients ( Wu et al, 2017 ). Assessing the association of UCP expression with breast malignancy thermogenesis may facilitate the use of thermal tomography in the diagnosis and treatment of BC.…”