Standardized uptake value on positron emission tomography/computed tomography predicts prognosis in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to investigate the use and value of maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) images as a prognostic marker for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC).


METHODS
The medical records of all consecutive patients who underwent PET/CT examination in our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria were histologically or cytologically proven LAPC. Patients with distant metastasis were excluded. For statistical analysis, the SUV max of primary pancreatic cancer was measured. Survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariable analysis was performed to determine the association of SUV max with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) using a Cox proportional hazards model.


RESULTS
Between July 2006 and June 2013, 69 patients were enrolled in the present study. OS and PFS were 14.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 13.1-16.7] and 8.3 months (95% CI 7.1-9.5), respectively. A high SUV max (>5.5) was observed in 35 patients, who had significantly worse OS and PFS than the remaining patients with a low SUV max (P = 0.025 and P = 0.003). Univariate analysis showed that SUV max and tumor size were prognostic factors for OS, with a hazard ratio of 1.90 and 1.81, respectively. A high SUV max was an independent prognostic factor, with a hazard ratio of 1.89 (95% CI 1.015-3.519, P = 0.045).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that increased SUV max is a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with LAPC.
Department of Medical Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, Shenyang, 110004, China.
Si-Liang
SL
Wang
Department of Medical Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, Shenyang, 110004, China.
Shuo
S
Cao
Department of Medical Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, Shenyang, 110004, China.
Yu-Nan
YN
Sun
Department of Medical Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, Shenyang, 110004, China. wur@sj-hospital.org.
Rong
R
Wu
Department of Medical Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, Shenyang, 110004, China.
Feng
F
Chi
Department of Medical Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, Shenyang, 110004, China.
Mei-Yue
MY
Tang
Department of Medical Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, Shenyang, 110004, China.
Xue-Ying
XY
Jin
Department of Medical Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, Shenyang, 110004, China.
Xiao-Dong
XD
Chen
D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
Chemoradiotherapy; Locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma; Positron emission tomography/computed tomography; Prognosis; Standardized uptake value