A small animal positron emission tomography study of the effect of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy on the uptake of 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose in murine models of breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We used small animal positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to monitor the time-course of tumor metabolic response to hormone and chemotherapy in a murine model of hormone-sensitive breast cancer.


METHODS
Estrogen receptor positive murine mammary carcinomas were inoculated in Balb/c mice. Small animal PET imaging using 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D: -glucose (FDG) was used to assess tumor metabolic activity. Imaging was done before and at days 1, 7, and 14 after the administration of doxorubicin, methotrexate, letrozole, or placebo. The tumor uptake of FDG was calculated from a region-of-interest drawn around the tumor.


RESULTS
All treatments resulted in a decrease in tumor growth rate and end volume compared to untreated control. FDG uptake was also markedly decreased after treatment although a flare reaction was observed on PET at day 7, the intensity of which varied according to the treatment modality.


CONCLUSIONS
PET imaging is sensitive to detect early changes associated with therapy in murine breast cancer models. A flare reaction was observed 7 days after the initiation of therapy.
Aliaga
Antonio
A
Sherbrooke Molecular Imaging Center, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
Rousseau
Jacques A
JA
Cadorette
Jules
J
Croteau
Etienne
E
van Lier
Johan E
JE
Lecomte
Roger
R
Bénard
François
F
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D000077289:Letrozole; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D009570:Nitriles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D009570:Nitriles; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D014230:Triazoles; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D000077289:Letrozole; D004317:Doxorubicin; D008727:Methotrexate