Head and neck tumors angiogenesis imaging with 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD in comparison to 18F-FDG PET/CT: a pilot study
Steve Durante, Vincent Dunet, François Gorostidi, Periklis Mitsakis, Niklaus Schaefer, Judith Anna Delage, John O. Prior
Abstract
Abstract Background Angiogenesis plays an important role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) progression. This pilot study was designed to compare the distribution of 68 Ga-NODAGA-RGD PET/CT for imaging α v β 3 integrins involved in tumor angiogenesis to 18 F-FDG PET/CT in patients with HNSCC. Material and methods Ten patients (aged 58.4 ± 8.3 years [range, 44–73 years], 6 males, 4 females) with a total of 11 HNSCC were prospectively enrolled. Activity mapping and standard uptake values (SUV) from both 68 Ga-NODAGA-RGD and 18 F-FDG PET/CT scans were recorded for primary tumor and compared with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The relation between the SUV of both tracers was assessed using the Spearman correlation. Results All HNSCC tumors were visible with both tracers. Quantitative analysis showed higher 18 F-FDG SUV max in comparison to 68 Ga-NODAGA-RGD (14.0 ± 6.1 versus 3.9 ± 1.1 g/mL, p = 0.0017) and SUV mean (8.2 ± 3.1 versus 2.0 ± 0.8 g/mL, p = 0.0017). Both 18 F-FDG and 68 Ga-NODAGA-RGD uptakes were neither correlated with grade, HPV status nor p16 protein expression ( p ≥ 0.17). Conclusion All HNSCC tumors were detected with both tracers with higher uptake with 18 F-FDG, however. 68 Ga-NODAGA-RGD has a different spatial distribution than 18 F-FDG bringing different tumor information. Trial registration NCT, NCT02666547 . Registered 12.8.2012.