Combined (111)In-pentetreotide scintigraphy and (123)I-mIBG scintigraphy in neuroblastoma provides prognostic information.
BACKGROUND
High-affinity somatostatin receptors (SRs) have been characterized in neuroblastomas and may be used as target structures for in vivo detection of SR.


METHODS
Eighty-eight children with histologically proven neuroblastoma were investigated at diagnosis or relapse by (123)I-mIBG and (111)In-pentetreotide scintigraphy. All tumors were investigated for MYCN copy number, chromosome 1p36 status, and 68/88 also for DNA content, followed for a median follow-up of 35 months (range 1-88 months).


RESULTS
SR expression was detected in 56/88 tumors and (123)I-mIBG showed positivity in 83/88. (111)In-pentetreotide was less sensitive in detecting tumor tissue than was (123)I-mIBG (64% vs. 94%, P = 0.005). Survival (SUR) and event-free survival probability (EFS) according to Kaplan-Meier was significantly better for children with positive SR scintigraphy than for the children with a negative SR scan (SUR: 90% vs. 48% at 4 years log rank P < 0.003, EFS: 83% vs. 39% at 4 years, log rank P < 0.0002).


CONCLUSIONS
(123)I-mIBG scintigraphy remains the best scintigraphic method for detecting neuroblastoma tumor tissue, whereas additional SR scintigraphy is able to provide significant prognostic information with a minimum of invasiveness.
Schilling
F H
FH
Oncology/Hematology/Immunology, Olgahospital, Childhood and Adolescent Health, Stuttgart, Germany. fhs@nbs.s.shuttle.de
Bihl
H
H
Jacobsson
H
H
Ambros
P F
PF
Martinsson
T
T
Borgström
P
P
Schwarz
K
K
Ambros
I M
IM
Treuner
J
J
Kogner
P
P
D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality*; D011379:Prognosis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D015996:Survival Rate
D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; D013004:Somatostatin; C081788:pentetreotide