title: Preoperative radiation response evaluated by 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography predicts survival in locally advanced rectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study focuses on the prognostic survival value of postirradiation metabolic activity in primary rectal cancer as measured with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  From July 1995 to March 2002, all 59 patients underwent two series of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography: one before preoperative radiation (standardized uptake values-1), and the other two to three weeks after radiation (standardized uptake values-2). Standardized uptake values-1 and standardized uptake values-2 correspond to before and after radiation, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In univariate analysis, the following emerged as significant prognostic variables: with or without residual tumor, pathologic differentiation, with or without recurrence, standardized uptake values-2, and with or without lymph node metastases. In multivariate analysis, residual tumor and standardized uptake values-2 were significant prognostic factors for survival. The median survival and the five-year overall survival rate comparing standardized uptake values-2 values <5 vs. >5 were 95 vs. 42 months and 70 vs. 44 percent, respectively (P = 0.042).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant survival benefit was observed in patients with low fluorodeoxyglucose uptake after preoperative radiotherapy in primary tumors of rectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Tokyo Hospital, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan. nakagawa-rad@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Hideomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Igaki
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tago
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hosoi
authors.forename: Toshimitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Momose
authors.forename: Kuni
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohtomo
authors.forename: Tetsuichiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muto
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagawa
mesh_terms: D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods*; D003125:Colostomy; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18