title: The predictive value of 18F-FDG-PET early evaluation in patients with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma treated with chemotherapy plus cetuximab.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the therapy-induced reduction of the (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) maximum standardized uptake value in patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma treated with chemotherapy plus cetuximab could predict the objective response and outcome early during the treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed as a part of a phase II trial evaluating cetuximab plus the leucovorin/5-fluorouracil/irinotecan (FOLFIRI) regimen. The objective response was evaluated according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) every 6 weeks. The early metabolic response evaluated by 18F-FDG-PET was assessed according to our own evaluated cutoff value (<35%) after receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty of 22 patients had positive baseline 18F-FDG-PET. The best RECIST response was: complete response (CR), 3; partial response (PR), 9; stable disease (SD), 8. Twelve patients (60%) were classified as metabolic responders and 8 (40%) as nonresponders. At the median follow-up time of 11 months, median time to disease progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) for early metabolic responders versus nonresponders were 11 versus 5 months (P = 0.0016) and 16 versus 6 months (P = 0.1493), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The early metabolic response evaluated by 18F-FDG-PET predicted the clinical outcome in this series of patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with chemotherapy plus cetuximab.
authors: Medical Oncology Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Albertoni, 15-40138, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Di Fabio
authors: Carmine
authors: C
authors: Pinto
authors: Fabiola L
authors: FL
authors: Rojas Llimpe
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Fanti
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Castellucci
authors: Ciro
authors: C
authors: Longobardi
authors: Vita
authors: V
authors: Mutri
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Funaioli
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Sperandi
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Giaquinta
authors: Andrea A
authors: AA
authors: Martoni
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068818:Cetuximab; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012074:Remission Induction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin