Response Monitoring with [(18)F]FLT PET and Diffusion-Weighted MRI After Cytotoxic 5-FU Treatment in an Experimental Rat Model for Colorectal Liver Metastases.

S. Heskamp, L. Heijmen, D. Gerrits, J. Molkenboer-Kuenen, E. Ter Voert, K. Heinzmann, D. Honess, D. Smith, J. Griffiths, S. Doblas, R. Sinkus, P. Laverman, W. Oyen, A. Heerschap and O. Boerman

2017

DOI PMID

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the potential of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and 3'-dexoy-3'-[(18)F]fluorothymidine ([(18)F]FLT) positron emission tomography (PET) as early biomarkers of treatment response of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in a syngeneic rat model of colorectal cancer liver metastases. Wag/Rij rats with intrahepatic syngeneic CC531 tumors were treated with 5-FU (15, 30, or 60 mg/kg in weekly intervals). Before treatment and at days 1, 3, 7, and 14 after treatment rats underwent DW-MRI and [(18)F]FLT PET. Tumors were analyzed immunohistochemically for Ki67, TK1, and ENT1 expression. 5-FU inhibited the growth of CC531 tumors in a dose-dependent manner. Immunohistochemical analysis did not show significant changes in Ki67, TK1, and ENT1 expression. However, [(18)F]FLT SUVmean and SUVmax were significantly increased at days 4 and 7 after treatment with 5-FU (60 mg/kg) and returned to baseline at day 14 (SUVmax at days -1, 4, 7, and 14 was 1.1 ± 0.1, 2.3 ± 0.5, 2.3 ± 0.6, and 1.5 ± 0.4, respectively). No changes in [(18)F]FLT uptake were observed in the nontreated animals. Furthermore, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmean) did not change in 5-FU-treated rats compared to untreated rats. This study suggests that 5-FU treatment induces a flare in [(18)F]FLT uptake of responsive CC531 tumors in the liver, while the ADCmean did not change significantly. Future studies in larger groups are warranted to further investigate whether [(18)F]FLT PET can discriminate between disease progression and treatment response.