18F-FDG PET/CT as predictive and prognostic factor in esophageal cancer treated with combined modality treatment
Marco Krengli, Eleonora Ferrara, Riccardo Guaschino, Erinda Puta, Lucia Turri, Ilaria Luciani, Gian Mauro Sacchetti, Pierfrancesco Franco, Marco Brambilla
Abstract
PURPOSE: [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F] FDG-PET/CT) is used for diagnosis, staging, response assessment and prognosis prediction in different tumors, but its role in esophageal cancer is still debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of semiquantitative baseline PET parameters as possible prognostic and predictive factors in a series of esophageal carcinomas treated with combined modalities. METHODS: 43 patients with esophageal carcinoma were treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery in 20 cases and underwent pre-treatment 18F-FDG-PET/CT. Semiquantitative PET parameters were evaluated including Standardized Uptake Value (SUVmax e SUVmean), Metabolic Tumor Volume (MTV) and Total Lesion Glycolysis (TLG) with isocontour of 41 and 50%. Further variables analyzed were gender, primary tumor site, histological type, use of surgery, achievement of a radical resection and the type of chemotherapy regimen. The correlation of all variables with treatment response, loco-regional control (LR), Overall survival (OS) and Disease-Free Survival (DFS) was evaluated. RESULTS: (both p values = 0.04) showed better 3-year OS rates (33 vs. 20%). Further factors predicting a better prognosis were the use of surgery and radical resection (R0) (both p values < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-treatment MTV values were significant prognostic factors for OS, together with the use of surgery and R0 resection in esophageal cancers treated with multimodal therapies.