title: Early response to chemotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer assessed by [18F]-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to demonstrate that patients who exhibit a tumor metabolic response to first-line chemotherapy seen on FDG-PET and computed tomography (CT) would survive longer than those who did not show such a response, comparing this evaluation with the morphologic response seen on CT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Images were acquired in 22 consecutive patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) randomized to receive carboplatin/paclitaxel/sorafenib or placebo. FDG-PET was performed within 4 weeks before (PET1) and 2 weeks after starting treatment (PET2). Similarly, CT (CT1) was performed at baseline and then every 2 cycles (6 weeks) during treatment (CT2). Responders and nonresponders were identified with FDG-PET, and metabolic response was then compared with morphologic changes detected by spiral CT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one of 22 patients completed this study. In terms of progression-free survival (PFS) (45 vs. 22.2 weeks) and overall survival (OS) (77 vs. 47.7 weeks), we observed a trend that was not statistically significant for patients whose response after 2 weeks of treatment was seen on FDG-PET (P = .22 for PFS; P = .15 for OS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with advanced NSCLC who had a positive outcome, as evidenced by prolonged survival, were those who showed a tumor metabolic response seen on FDG-PET.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University of Turin, AOU San Luigi Orbassano (TO), Italy. silvia.novello@unito.it
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novello
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vavalà
authors.forename: Matteo Giaj
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Levra
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Solitro
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pelosi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veltri
authors.forename: Giorgio V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Scagliotti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D000077157:Sorafenib; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel