title: Early assessment of radiation response using a novel functional imaging modality -- [18F]fluorocholine PET (FCH-PET): a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  [¹⁸F]Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (FDG-PET) is commonly used to assess response to patients treated with radiation (RT) or combination of chemotherapy and RT (CRT). The intent of this pilot study is to explore whether [¹⁸F]fluorocholine PET (FCH-PET) can serve as an early predictive biomarker for early detection of RT/CRT response.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients have been accrued and analyzed. The lesions were base of tongue, tonsil, nodes, hypopharynx, maxilla, palate, lung, pancreas, brain, uterine, and rectal. There were 16 lesions that were considered target lesion and were followed for correlation between change in FCH-PET SUVmax readings and clinical outcome. Median tumor size was 4.4 cm. Median RT dose was 66 Gy. The change in SUVmax (Δ SUVmax) of FCH-PET scans performed before and during RT was correlated with clinical outcome at the last follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median FCH-PET SUVmax for the 1st and 2nd scans was 6.15 and 4.65, respectively. Fourteen (87.5%) lesions showed a reduction in SUVmax in either a complete response (CR) or a partial response (PR), and 2 lesions showed an increase in SUVmax both of which were determined to be non-response (NR). The median percentage change between the 1st and 2nd scan was -19.5%. Forty-four percent of lesions (7/16) had CR, 44% (7/16) had PR, and 12% (2/16) had NR (no response). Median follow-up was 12 months. The results showed a difference between NR and PR, between NR and CR, and a trend towards significance (p=0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FCH-PET scan demonstrated changes in SUVmax during RT that were predictive of final outcome.
authors: Stich Radiation Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065, USA. bup9001@med.cornell.edu
authors: Bhupesh
authors: B
authors: Parashar
authors: A Gabriella
authors: AG
authors: Wernicke
authors: Samuel
authors: S
authors: Rice
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Osborne
authors: Prabhsimranjot
authors: P
authors: Singh
authors: Dattatreyudu
authors: D
authors: Nori
authors: Shankar
authors: S
authors: Vallabhajosula
authors: Stanley
authors: S
authors: Goldsmith
authors: K S Clifford
authors: KS
authors: Chao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002794:Choline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011878:Radiotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C514960:fluorocholine; D002794:Choline