Correlation Between PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway and Elastic Characteristics of Breast Lesions / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose To explore the correlation between phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/serine-threonine kinase(PI3K/AKT)signaling pathway and elastic characteristics of breast lesions.Materials and Methods A total of 115 breast lesions were prospectively analyzed in 114 patients who underwent surgery from May 2021 to May 2022 at Chinese PLA General Hospital.Ultrasound and shear wave elastography were performed preoperatively.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of PI3K/AKT protein levels in the tissue specimens,and the correlation between the staining results and the elastic parameters of shear wave elastography was analyzed.Results Surgical pathology revealed benign breast lesions in 50 cases and malignant lesions in 65 cases(25 cases with axillary lymph node metastasis).The maximum modulus of elasticity(F=40.47),the average modulus of elasticity(F=45.11),the ratio of elasticity of the lesion to that of the surrounding tissue(F=48.98),the detection rate of"hard ring sign"(χ2=62.25),the expression level of PI3K/p-PI3K(F=15.19,58.95)and AKT/p-AKT(F=46.94,74.21)were found in benign and malignant lesions without axillary lymph node metastasis,malignant lesions with axillary lymph node metastasis(all P<0.05).The expression levels of PI3K/p-PI3K and AKT/p-AKT were positively correlated with the maximum elastic modulus value,the mean elastic modulus value,and the ratio of elasticity of the lesion to the surrounding tissues(r=0.475,0.475,0.451;r=0.533,0.540,0.542;r=0.371,0.402,0.445;r=0.482,0.455,0.545,all P<0.05).Conclusion The expression level of PI3K/AKT in breast lesions is correlated with elastic characteristics,suggesting that it plays an important role in the regulation of elastic characteristics of breast lesions.