18F-FLT PET changes during radiotherapy combined with cetuximab in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients
Nuklearmedizin
2014
60-66
B. Hoeben, E. Troost, J. Bussink, C. van Herpen, W. Oyen and J. Kaanders
Aim: Early treatment response of head and neck cancer to radiotherapy concomitant with cetuximab was monitored by repetitive PET imaging with the proliferation tracer 18F-FLT. Patients, methods: Five head and neck cancer patients, treated with radiotherapy and concomitant cetuximab following cetuximab induction, received four 18F-FLT PET-CT scans before and during treatment. Changes in SUVpeak, SUVmean and CT- and PET-segmented gross tumour volumes were evaluated, as were correlations with immunohistochemical staining for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and Ki-67 (proliferation marker) in pre-treatment tumour biopsies. Results:18F-FLT PET measured tumor responses to the induction dose of cetuximab varied from43\% SUVpeak decrease to 47\% increase. After start of radiotherapy 18F-FLT PET parameters decreased significantly in all patients. No associations were found between PET parameters and EGFR or Ki-67 expression levels. Conclusion: Proliferation of head and neck carcinomas shows a varying response to cetuximab induction, but consistently decreases after addition of radiotherapy.