[18F] fluoromisonidazole and [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in response evaluation after chemo-/radiotherapy of non-small-cell lung cancer: a feasibility study.
BACKGROUND
Experimental and clinical evidence suggest that hypoxia in solid tumours reduces their sensitivity to conventional treatment modalities modulating response to ionizing radiation or chemotherapeutic agents. The aim of the present study was to show the feasibility of determining radiotherapeutically relevant hypoxia and early tumour response by ([18F] Fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) and [18F]-2-fluoro-2'-deoxyglucose (FDG) PET.


METHODS
Eight patients with non-small-cell lung cancer underwent PET scans. Tumour tissue oxygenation was measured with FMISO PET, whereas tumour glucose metabolism was measured with FDG PET. All PET studies were carried out with an ECAT EXACT 922/47 scanner with an axial field of view of 16.2 cm. FMISO PET consisted of one static scan of the relevant region, performed 180 min after intravenous administration of the tracer. The acquisition and reconstruction parameters were as follows: 30 min emission scanning and 4 min transmission scanning with 68-Ge/68-Ga rod sources. The patients were treated with chemotherapy, consisting of 2 cycles of gemcitabine (1200 mg/m2) and vinorelbine (30 mg/m2) followed by concurrent radio- (2.0 Gy/d; total dose 66.0 Gy) and chemotherapy with gemcitabine (300-500 mg/m2) every two weeks. FMISO PET and FDG PET were performed in all patients 3 days before and 14 days after finishing chemotherapy.


RESULTS
FMISO PET allowed for the qualitative and quantitative definition of hypoxic sub-areas which may correspond to a localization of local recurrences. In addition, changes in FMISO and FDG PET measure the early response to therapy, and in this way, may predict freedom from disease, as well as overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results warrant validation in larger trials. If confirmed, several novel treatment strategies may be considered, including the early use of PET to evaluate the effectiveness of the selected therapy.
Gagel
Bernd
B
Department of Radiotherapy, University of Aachen, Germany. BGagel@UKAachen.de
Reinartz
Patrick
P
Demirel
Cengiz
C
Kaiser
Hans J
HJ
Zimny
Michael
M
Piroth
Marc
M
Pinkawa
Michael
M
Stanzel
Sven
S
Asadpour
Branka
B
Hamacher
Kurt
K
Coenen
Heinz H
HH
Buell
Ulrich
U
Eble
Michael J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D008920:Misonidazole / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C031843:fluoromisonidazole; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D014747:Vinblastine; D008920:Misonidazole; D005947:Glucose; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine