Measurement of tumor heterogeneity with habitats in breast cancer and its application in molecular subtype discrimination

In this work, multiparametric MRI was applied to reconstruct spatial habitats and validate the association with the molecular subtypes of breast cancer. By combining perfusion and diffusion characteristics, three habitats were constructed and assigned: hypervascular habitat, hypovascular cellular habitat, and nonviable habitat. In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the volume fraction is lower for hypervascular habitat and higher for nonviable habitat, with respect to non-TNBC.