title: FDG-PET for prediction of survival of patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current study focuses on the prognostic value of pretreatment metabolic activity in metastases as measured with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), as an indicator of survival in colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective series of 152 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, of whom 67 were treated with resection of metastases and 85 with chemotherapy, standardized uptake values (SUV) as measured with FDG-PET, were calculated prior to treatment. Survival probabilities were estimated by Cox proportional regression analysis. For Kaplan-Meier analysis SUV was stratified by the median value. Survival differences were assessed using the log-rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SUV in metastases was a significant predictor for overall survival (hazard ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.30, P = 0.002), independent of the subsequent treatment. According to the median value of the patient population a low (SUV <4.26) and high uptake group (SUV >4.26) was defined. The median survival and the 2- and 3-year survival rates were 32 months, 59% and 45%, respectively, in the low-uptake group and 19 months, 37% and 28%, respectively, in the high-uptake group (P = 0.017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant survival benefit was observed in patients with low FDG uptake in metastases of colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. L.degeus-oei@nucmed.umcn.nl
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: de Geus-Oei
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiering
authors.forename: P F M
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Krabbe
authors.forename: T J M
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ruers
authors.forename: C J A
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Punt
authors.forename: W J G
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Oyen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18