PET Evaluates Therapeutic Value

A research team from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center published findings that indicate PET scans may predict tumor response to radiation therapy at early points during treatment. The team shared their findings in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The 15 patients who participated in the study all received radiation for early stage non-small cell lung cancer. Each of the patients had imaging with FDG-PET scans within four weeks of starting radiotherapy, in addition to scanning three months after completion of treatment.

FDG-PET evaluates the presence glucose at the cellular level with a tracer that targets cells metabolizing at a rapid rate. Tumors that are responding to treatment regimens have lower levels of tracer uptake.

The team noted an association between the response at the four week scans and overall treatment response. Findings from the early PET studies can, thus, be used to modify the treatment regimen, dose in particular, as needed.

The value of early PET is that it can assess both abnormal and healthy tissue before healthy tissue is confounded in response to the effects of radiation therapy. PET studies completed following radiation therapy are more likely to be moderated because of this effect, which results in tissue inflammation and other changes.

The research team now plans to investigate if changes to the therapeutic regimen during the course of treatment, based on findings from FDG-PET, moderate outcomes.

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