Abstract #2882

Pickles M, Lowry M, Turnbull L

The primary objective of this work was to evaluate the possible role apparent spin spin relaxation rate (R2*) has in assessing response to treatment in a cohort of breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The secondary aim was to compare R2* with tumour volume in assessing response. The results from 33 patients revealed no significant difference in R2* values or volume between response groups prior to or post 1st cycle time-points. However at the 2nd cycle time-point significant differences were noted (R2* p=0.009, volume p=0.002). Whilst tumour volume consistently outperformed R2* in assessing response the differences were small.