• Feasibility of using advanced, quantitative, multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging methods for characterizing breast tumors and predicting treatment response [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Identification of surrogate biomarkers that can guide diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Correlation of biochemical data obtained from magnetic resonance analysis with clinical, radiological, and pathological findings [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Establishment of an imaging data bank [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

OBJECTIVES:

• Develop and combine advanced, quantitative, multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging methods (i.e., dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI [DCE-MRI], diffusion-weighted MRI [DW-MRI], and magnetic resonance spectroscopy [MRS]) to characterize breast tumors in women with known or suspected breast cancer.
• Identify surrogate biomarkers that can guide diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer using these methods.
• Correlate biochemical information obtained from magnetic resonance analysis with clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings in these patients.
• Establish an imaging data bank that includes information on DCE-MRI, DW-MRI, and MRS findings in these patients and in healthy participants.

OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to treatment plan (definitive surgery vs neoadjuvant chemotherapy). Patients are assigned to groups 1 or 2. Healthy participants are assigned to group 3.

• Group 1 : Patients undergo preoperative breast MRI followed by definitive surgery.
• Group 2: Patients undergo MRI measurement of tumor volume prior to initiating neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 1-2 weeks after initiation of chemotherapy, and prior to definitive surgery.
• Group 3: Healthy participants undergo up to 3 breast MRIs over 6 weeks. Clinical information, including radiologic and pathologic data, on all patients is collected for inclusion in the imaging data bank.

After completion of the study, patients and healthy participants are followed periodically.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 150 patients and healthy participants will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Meets 1 of the following criteria:

  • Healthy participant
  • Patient with known or suspected breast disease
• Hormone receptor status unknown

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Female
• Menopausal status not specified
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No patients who are acutely ill or deemed ineligible for study participation by their treating physician

• No contraindication to MRI, including any of the following:

  • Breast volume
  • Obesity
  • Foreign ferromagnetic materials in the body

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No concurrent gadopentetate dimeglumine in patients or healthy participants with known prior allergic reaction to the MRI contrast agent