title: Value of baseline positron emission tomography for predicting overall survival in patient with nonmetastatic esophageal or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The value of baseline positron emission tomography (PET) for predicting overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) is unclear in patients with nondistant metastatic (locoregional only) esophageal carcinoma. The authors tested the hypothesis that, in this setting, the number of PET abnormalities (NPA) would correlate with OS and DFS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors of the current study analyzed patients with localized esophageal carcinoma (Stages II and III) who had a baseline PET and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and were all treated with chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. The standardized uptake value (SUV) of PET avid lesions were evaluated for: SUV of the primary, NPA, peak SUV, and total SUV. Correlations were performed with baseline EUS results, OS, DFS, and clinical and pathologic response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-seven patients who underwent chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery were analyzed. Most patients had clinical Stage III cancer. NPA was significantly associated with OS (Cox model, P = 0.02; log-rank test, P = 0.04) and DFS (P = 0.04). Patients with NPA > 1 had a death hazard ratio of 4.49 (reference, NPA = 1). In a multivariate analysis, NPA was independently predictive of OS (P = 0.03). Alternatively, SUV of the primary tumor, peak SUV, total SUV, and EUS clinical stage did not correlate with the type of response, OS or DFS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from the current study suggest that for nondistant metastatic esophageal carcinoma, baseline PET can predict patient outcome. Baseline NPA (> 1), reflecting the regional nodal metastases, is an independent predictor of OS. Baseline PET may become a useful stratification factor in randomized trials and for individualizing therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of GI Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lunagomez
authors.forename: E Edmund
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeffery H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bresalier
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Swisher
authors.forename: Tsung-Tse
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Zhongxing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Ritsuko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Komaki
authors.forename: Jaffer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ajani
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D016629:Esophagectomy; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome