Tumor flow in malignant breast tumors measured by Doppler ultrasound: an independent predictor of survival

The purpose of this study was to investigate tumor blood flow in breast cancers with regard to its impact on the overall survival of patients. Tumor blood flow was assessed in seventy-four patients with primary breast cancer by the use of color-coded Doppler ultrasound techniques. Preoperatively obtained Doppler frequency spectra were analyzed for peak systolic flow velocity (V-max). Color Doppler signals were detected in 71 (96%) of the breast tumors. Out of 74 patients, 17 experienced a relapse or distant metastasis, and 15 women had died due to breast cancer at the time of data analysis. The mean V-max of the patients who had died was 0.27 m s(-1), whereas survivors showed a mean V-max of 0.16 m s(-1) (p = 0.01). V-max, nodal status, and progesterone receptor status remained the only significant factors of overall survival in the multivariate model, whereas tumor size, tumor grade, and estrogen receptor status failed to retain prognostic significance. Moreover, V-max was identified as the most important prognostic marker for survival in our series. The five-year-survival was 82.3% in V-max less than or equal to 0.25 m s(-1) patients versus 36.6% in women with tumor flow greater than 0.25 m s(-1). Patients with V-max > 0.25 m s(-1) experienced a 4.33-fold increased risk of death secondary to the underlying disease. In summary, our data showed that tumor blood flow velocity measured by ultrasonography is an independent prognostic factor of survival in breast cancer patients. Furthermore, tumor flow velocity allows identification of patients at very high risk of death due to breast cancer. Large scale clinical trials should evaluate the clinical usefulness and future impact of this procedure for adjuvant treatment decisions.