Additional benefit of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose integrated positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the staging of oesophageal cancer

Phosphohistidine signaling promotes FAK-RB1 interaction and growth factor-independent proliferation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Current clinical therapies targeting receptor tyrosine kinases including focal adhesion kinase (FAK) have had limited or no effect on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Unlike esophageal adenocarcinomas, ESCC acquire glucose in excess of their anabolic need. We recently reported that glucose-induced growth factor-independent proliferation requires the phosphorylation of FAK^His58. Here, we confirm His58 phosphorylation in FAK immunoprecipitates of glucose-stimulated, serum-starved ESCC cells using antibodies specific for 3-phosphohistidine and mass spectrometry. We also confirm a role for the histidine kinase, NME1, in glucose-induced FAK^poHis58 and ESCC cell proliferation, correlating with increased levels of NME1 in ESCC tumors versus normal esophageal tissues. Unbiased screening identified glucose-induced retinoblastoma transcriptional corepressor 1 (RB1) binding to FAK, mediated through a "LxCxE" RB1-binding motif in FAK's FERM domain. Importantly, in the absence of growth factors, glucose increased FAK scaffolding of RB1 in the cytoplasm, correlating with increased ESCC G1→S phase transition. Our data strongly suggest that this glucose-mediated mitogenic pathway is novel and represents a unique targetable opportunity in ESCC.

Response rate and diagnostic accuracy of early PET-CT during neo-adjuvant therapies in oesophageal adenocarcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Only 25% of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) patients have a pathological response to neo-adjuvant therapy (NAT) before oesophagectomy. Early response assessment using PET imaging may help guide management of these patients. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesise the evidence detailing response rate and diagnostic accuracy of early PET-CT assessment.

METHODS

We systematically searched several databases including MEDLINE and Embase. Studies with mixed cohorts of histology, tumour location and a repeat PET-CT assessment after more than one cycle of NAT were excluded. Reference standard was pathological response defined by Becker or Mandard classifications. Primary outcome was metabolic response rate after one cycle of NAT defined by a reduction in maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) of 35%. Secondary outcome was diagnostic accuracy of treatment response prediction, defined as the sensitivity and specificity of early PET-CT using this threshold. Quality of evidence was also assessed. Random-effects meta-analysis pooled response rates and diagnostic accuracy. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019147034).

RESULTS

Overall, 1341 articles were screened, and 6 studies were eligible for analysis. These studies reported data for 518 patients (aged 27-78 years; 452 [87.3%] were men) between 2005 and 2020. Pooled sensitivity of early metabolic response to predict pathological response was 77.2% (95% CI 53.2%-100%). Significant heterogeneity existed between studies (I2  = 80.6% (95% CI 38.9%-93.8%), P = .006). Pooled specificity was 75.0% (95% CI 68.2%-82.5%), however, no significant heterogeneity between studies existed (I2  = 0.0% (95% CI 0.0%-67.4%), P = .73).

CONCLUSION

High-quality evidence is lacking, and few studies met the inclusion criteria of this systematic review. The sensitivity of PET using a SUVmax reduction threshold of 35% was suboptimal and varied widely. However, specificity was consistent across studies with a pooled value of 75.0%, suggesting early PET assessment is a better predictor of treatment resistance than of pathological response. Further research is required to define optimal PET-guided treatment decisions in OAC.

Role of Imaging in Esophageal Cancer Management in 2020: Update for Radiologists

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to discuss the role of imaging in the management of esophageal cancer. CONCLUSION. A multimodality-based approach to imaging is essential in clinical practice to achieve the best possible outcome for patients with esophageal cancer. Radiologists must be aware of the strengths and limitations of different imaging modalities in various clinical settings. The role of a radiologist is to combine information from anatomic and functional imaging, assess metastatic disease and changes in the primary tumor during treatment, and identify anatomic complications after treatment.

FDG-PET might not contribute to improving survival in patients with locally advanced inoperable esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

In Japan, positron emission tomography using ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) has been covered by the national health insurance for esophageal cancer since 2006. FDG-PET is commonly performed in advanced esophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of FDG-PET on survival in patients with locally advanced inoperable esophageal cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all patients with cT4 and without M1 esophageal cancer on CT in our institution between 2000 and 2014, and data for 78 patients who meet the eligibility criteria described below were used for analysis in this study. The eligibility criteria included (1) cT4 esophageal cancer without distant metastases or M1 lymph node metastasis (UICC 2002), (2) histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma, (3) 20-79 years of age, (4) having undergone at least 1 cycle of concomitant chemotherapy, (5) having been irradiated with 50 Gy or more, and (6) no other active malignant tumor during treatment.

RESULTS

Two patients were excluded because abdominal lymph node metastases or neck lymph node metastases were detected by FDG-PET. In 78 eligible patients, FDG-PET was not performed before treatment in 41 of the 78 patients and was performed in the other patients. The median observation period was 68 months. The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates in 78 patients were 36.9% and 30.8%, respectively. There was no significant difference in overall survival or progression-free survival between patients in whom FDG-PET was performed and those in whom FDG-PET was not performed (12.0 months vs. 11.0 months, p = 0.920 and 6.0 months vs. 6.0 months, p = 0.844, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with only CT, additional information from FDG-PET is not associated with improving survival in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. Our results suggest that FDG-PET might not have much meaning for survival in locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Early response evaluation of neoadjuvant therapy with PET/MRI to predict resectability in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction

STUDY DESIGN AND PURPOSE

Positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a new modality that has showed promising results for various clinical indications. Currently, evaluation of neoadjuvant therapy (NT) among patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction has primarily been reserved for PET/computed tomography. Our aim was to evaluate if early response evaluation by PET/MRI is a feasible method to predict resectability.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patients with untreated adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (Siewert types I/II) and fit for NT with no contraindications for PET/MRI were considered eligible. A baseline scan was performed prior to NT induction and an evaluation scan 3 weeks later. For histopathological response evaluation, the Mandard tumor regression grade score was applied. Response on PET/MRI was evaluated with Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1), and change in ADC and SUV_max values.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients were enrolled, and 22 completed both scans and proceeded to final analyses. Seventeen patients were found resectable versus five who were found unresectable. PET/MRI response evaluation had a sensitivity 94%, specificity 80%, and AUC = 0.95 when predicting resectability in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. No association with histopathological response (tumor regression grade) was found nor was RECIST correlated with resectability.

CONCLUSION

Response evaluation using PET/MRI was a feasible method to predict resectability in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction in this pilot study. However, larger studies are warranted to justify the use of the modality for this indication.

Nodal FDG-PET/CT uptake influences outcome and relapse location among esophageal cancer patients submitted to chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy

PURPOSE

Our aim was investigate whether lymph node uptake is associated with survival and regional relapses, and relapse patterns with respect to the radiotherapy fields in esophageal cancer (EC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The FDG-PET/CT image datasets of 56 patients were analyzed. All patients underwent definitive or neoadjuvant radio/chemotherapy (RCT). All patients suffering from persistent or recurrent local/regional-only disease after RCT were considered for salvage resection. Patients with adenocarcinoma without metastatic disease were considered for planned resection (usually within 3 months of treatment).

RESULTS

Patients with PET-positive lymph nodes before treatment had a worse overall survival and a shorter disease-free survival than those without PET-positive nodes. They also had worse node and metastatic relapse-free survival. N2 patients had statistically significant poorer outcomes than N1-N0 patients and a better survival if the involved nodes were closer to the esophageal tumor. Involved node location by PET/CT also affected global, nodal and metastatic relapses. In addition, an increment of SUVmax value increased relative risk of death and increased relative risk of node and metastatic relapses. The first site of relapse was metastatic recurrence and, second, local recurrence. The most frequent were "in-field" loco/regional recurrence. We observed a relationship between patients classified-N1 and out-field nodal recurrence (p = 0.024), and between patients-N2 and in-field nodal recurrence. The number of PET-positive nodes was an independent significant prognostic predictor for relapse (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that only FDG-PET/CT can provide prognostic information in EC. Nodal PET/CT uptake influences outcome and relapse location among EC patients.

The role of surgery in advanced disease for esophageal and junctional cancer

The incidence of esophageal and junctional cancer has been increasing in western industrialized nations in the past 30 years. At the time of diagnosis, approximately 50% of patients with esophageal and junctional cancers have distant metastases and are considered incurable. In the recent ESMO guidelines and the German S3 guidelines, surgical therapy for metastatic disease is not recommended. In spite of these recommendations, the treatment of limited metastatic (oligo-metastastic) esophagogastric cancer is currently undergoing a shift towards a more aggressive therapy. Selected patients with oligo-metastatic disease may be considered for surgical resection of the primary tumor and the metastases after chemo(radio)therapy and careful evaluation in an interdisciplinary tumor board. We discuss in this review the literature and some guidelines for extended surgical approaches is laid out. In the future, randomized prospective studies like the German RENAISSANCE/FLOT5 trial and the French SURGIGAST trial will feed us with more evidence if multimodal therapy including surgery for limited metastatic disease is indicated.

Long-term results of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with daily-low-dose continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin (LDFP) for Stage I-II esophageal carcinoma

We investigated long-term treatment outcomes and the feasibility of chemoradiotherapy consisting of daily-low-dose 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin (LDFP) chemotherapy plus radiotherapy for Stage I-II squamous cell esophageal cancer. Treatment records from the 2000 through 2008 period were reviewed retrospectively. Fractionated radiotherapy was performed with a total dose of 60 Gy delivered in 2 Gy per fraction. LDFP chemotherapy, as continuous infusion of 200 mg/m2 5-fluorouracil combined with one hour infusion of 4 mg/m2 cisplatin, was administered on the same days as radiotherapy. Survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Survival, responses, failure patterns, and toxicities were evaluated. Seventy-six (47 stage I and 29 stage II) patients were analyzed with a median follow-up of 93.6 months. The 8-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and cause-specific survival (CSS) rates were 63.4%, 49.8%, and 76.7%, respectively. The 8-year OS, PFS, and CSS for stage I and stage II patients were 71.0%/56.1%/82.9% and 45.2%/40.2%/66.6%, respectively. Sixty-eight patients (89.5%) completed the treatment regimen. A complete response (CR) was achieved in 68 patients (89.5%). Twenty-five patients (36.8%) experienced recurrence after CR. The failure patterns were (overlap included): local failure (n = 12), nodal metastasis (n = 12), distant metastasis (n = 3), details unknown (n = 2). Salvage therapy was performed for local failure; endoscopic therapy (n = 7) or surgery (n = 2). Six patients remain alive without relapse after salvage endoscopic therapy. Major Grade 3 or higher acute adverse events were leukopenia (22%), anorexia (17%), and esophagitis (11%). Major late toxicities (Grade 3 or 4) involved pericardial effusion (12%), pleural effusion (4%), and esophageal stenosis (3%). Chemoradiotherapy with LDFP provided favorable long-term survival with acceptable toxicity for Stage I-II squamous cell esophageal cancer. The tumor response was excellent, but close endoscopic follow-up is essential for detecting and treating local recurrence.

PET/Computed Tomography Scanning and Precision Medicine: Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer commonly has a poor prognosis, which requires an accurate diagnosis and early treatment to improve outcome. Other modalities for staging, such as endoscopic ultrasound imaging and computed tomography (CT) scans, have a role in diagnosis and staging. However, PET with fluorine-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose/CT (FDG PET/CT) scanning allows for improved detection of distant metastatic disease and can help to prevent unnecessary interventions that would increase morbidity. FDG PET/CT scanning is valuable in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy assessment and predicting survival outcomes subsequent to surgery. FDG PET/CT scanning detects recurrent disease and metastases in follow-up.

Metabolic nodal response as a prognostic marker after neoadjuvant therapy for oesophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

The ability to predict recurrence and survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and surgery for oesophageal cancer remains elusive. This study evaluated the role of [18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT in assessing tumour and nodal response as a prognostic marker.

METHODS

This was a single-centre UK cohort study. From 2006 to 2014, patients with oesophageal cancer staged with PET-CT before NAC, and restaged by CT or PET-CT before resection, were included. Pathological tumour response was evaluated using Mandard regression grades. Metabolic tumour and nodal responses (mTR and mNR respectively) were quantified using absolute and threshold reductions.

RESULTS

Among 294 included patients, mTR and mNR independently predicted prognosis before surgery. After surgery, mNR (but not mTR), pathological tumour response, resection margin status and pathological node category predicted prognosis. Patients with FDG-avid nodal disease after NAC were at high risk of recurrence/death at 1 and 2 years (43 and 71 per cent respectively; P = 0·030 and P = 0·025 versus patients without avid nodes), and had a worse prognosis than patients with non-avid nodal metastases: hazard ratio 4·19 (95 per cent c.i. 1·87 to 9·40) and 2·11 (1·12 to 3·97) respectively versus patients without nodal metastases. Considering mTR and mNR response separately improved prognostication.

CONCLUSION

mNR is a novel prognostic factor, independent of conventional N status. Primary and nodal tumours may respond discordantly and patients with FDG-avid nodes after NAC have a poor prognosis.

FDG-PET/CT lymph node staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophageal-gastric junction

Objectives

The aim of the analysis was to assess the accuracy of various FDG-PET/CT parameters in staging lymph nodes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods

In this prospective study, 74 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophageal–gastric junction were examined by FDG-PET/CT in the course of their neoadjuvant chemotherapy given before surgical treatment. Data from the final FDG-PET/CT examinations were compared with the histology from the surgical specimens (gold standard). The accuracy was calculated for four FDG-PET/CT parameters: (1) hypermetabolic nodes, (2) large nodes, (3) large-and-medium large nodes, and (4) hypermetabolic or large nodes.

Results

In 74 patients, a total of 1540 lymph nodes were obtained by surgery, and these were grouped into 287 regions according to topographic origin. Five hundred and two nodes were imaged by FDG-PET/CT and were grouped into these same regions for comparison. In the analysis, (1) hypermetabolic nodes, (2) large nodes, (3) large-and-medium large nodes, and (4) hypermetabolic or large nodes identified metastases in particular regions with sensitivities of 11.6%, 2.9%, 21.7%, and 13.0%, respectively; specificity was 98.6%, 94.5%, 74.8%, and 93.6%, respectively. The best accuracy of 77.7% reached the parameter of hypermetabolic nodes. Accuracy decreased to 62.0% when also smaller nodes (medium-large) were taken for the parameter of metastases.

Conclusions

FDG-PET/CT proved low sensitivity and high specificity. Low sensitivity was based on low detection rate (32.6%) when compared nodes imaged by FDG-PET/CT to nodes found by surgery, and in inability to detect micrometastases. Sensitivity increased when also medium-large LNs were taken for positive, but specificity and accuracy decreased.

Restaging oesophageal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy with (18)F-FDG PET-CT: identifying interval metastases and predicting incurable disease at surgery

OBJECTIVES

It is unknown whether restaging oesophageal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy with positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is more sensitive than contrast-enhanced CT for disease progression. We aimed to determine this and stratify risk.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of patients staged before neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) by (18)F-FDG PET-CT and restaged with CT or PET-CT in a single centre (2006-2014).

RESULTS

Three hundred and eighty-three patients were restaged (103 CT, 280 PET-CT). Incurable disease was detected by CT in 3 (2.91 %) and PET-CT in 17 (6.07 %). Despite restaging unsuspected incurable disease was encountered at surgery in 34/336 patients (10.1 %). PET-CT was more sensitive than CT (p = 0.005, McNemar's test). A new classification of FDG-avid nodal stage (mN) before NAC (plus tumour FDG-avid length) predicted subsequent progression, independent of conventional nodal stage. The presence of FDG-avid nodes after NAC and an impassable tumour stratified risk of incurable disease at surgery into high (75.0 %; both risk factors), medium (22.4 %; either), and low risk (3.87 %; neither) groups (p < 0.001). Decision theory supported restaging PET-CT.

CONCLUSIONS

PET-CT is more sensitive than CT for detecting interval progression; however, it is insufficient in at least higher risk patients. mN stage and response (mNR) plus primary tumour characteristics can stratify this risk simply.

KEY POINTS

• Restaging (18) F-FDG-PET-CT after neoadjuvant chemotherapy identifies metastases in 6 % of patients • Restaging (18) F-FDG-PET-CT is more sensitive than CT for detecting interval progression • Despite this, at surgery 10 % of patients had unsuspected incurable disease • New concepts (FDG-avid nodal stage and response) plus tumour impassability stratify risk • Higher risk (if not all) patients may benefit from additional restaging modalities.

Positron emission tomography for initial staging of esophageal cancer among medicare beneficiaries

BACKGROUND

The role of positron emission tomography (PET) in the initial staging of esophageal cancer is to detect occult metastases, but its ability to do so has not been evaluated at the population-level. In 2001, Medicare approved reimbursement of PET for esophageal cancer staging. We hypothesized rapid adoption of PET after 2001 and a coincident increase in the prevalence of stage IV disease.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study [1997-2009] was conducted of 12,870 Medicare beneficiaries with esophageal cancer using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER)-Medicare database.

RESULTS

PET use increased from <3% before 2001 to 44% in 2009 (post-PET era) (P trend <0.001). Over the same period, the prevalence of stage IV disease also increased (20% in 1997 and 28% in 2009, P trend <0.001). After adjusting for changing patient characteristics over time, the rate of increase in stage IV disease in the post-PET era [relative risk (RR) =1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00-1.13] was no different than the rate of increase in the pre-PET era (RR =1.02; 95% CI, 1.02-1.04). Over the entire study period, the prevalence of unrecorded stage decreased by more than half (43% to 18%, adjusted P trend <0.001) with coincident increases in stage 0-III (37% to 53%, adjusted P trend <0.001) as well as stage IV disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The increasing frequency of PET use and stage IV disease over time is more likely explained by improved documentation rather than PET's ability to detect occult metastases. The absence of compelling population-level impact compliments previous studies, revealing an opportunity to increase value through selective use of PET.

Esophageal Cancer: Role of Imaging in Primary Staging and Response Assessment Post Neoadjuvant Therapy

Advances in the early detection and treatment of esophageal cancer have meant improved survival rates for patients with esophageal cancer. Accurate pretreatment and post-neoadjuvant treatment staging of esophageal cancer is essential for assessing operability and determining the optimum treatment plan. This article reviews the multimodality imaging approach in the diagnosis, staging, and assessment of treatment response in esophageal cancer.

Determination of regional lymph node status using (18)F-FDG PET/CT parameters in oesophageal cancer patients: comparison of SUV, volumetric parameters and intratumoral heterogeneity

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate whether the standardized uptake values, volumetric parameters and intratumoral heterogeneity of fluorine-18-fludeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) uptake could predict regional lymph node (rLN) metastasis in oesophageal cancer.

METHODS

51 patients with surgically resected oesophageal cancer were included in the present study. The (18)F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET)/CT findings and rLN metastasis were compared with the histopathological results. The intratumoral metabolic heterogeneity was represented by the heterogeneity factor (HF), which was determined for each patient. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to analyse the associations between the rLN metastasis and clinical findings, standardized uptake values, metabolic tumour volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and HF.

RESULTS

The rLN(+) group showed statistically significant higher values of MTV (median, 13.59 vs 6.6; p = 0.0085), TLG (median, 119.18 vs 35.96; p = 0.0072) and HF (median, 3.07 vs 2.384; p = 0.0002) than the rLN(-) group. Univariate analysis showed that maximum standardized uptake value, mean standardized uptake value, MTV, TLG and HF were significantly associated with pathologic rLN involvement. However, in multivariate analysis, the HF was a potent associated factor for the prediction of pathologic rLN metastasis in oesophageal cancer.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, (18)F-FDG PET/CT parameters such as maximum standardized uptake value, mean standardized uptake value, MTV, TLG and HF were useful for the prediction of pathologic rLN status in patients with oesophageal cancer. However, HF might be the most powerful predictor of rLN metastasis of patients with oesophageal cancer.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

Assessment of intratumoral heterogeneity of (18)F-FDG PET/CT may be a useful adjunct for rLN staging of oesophageal cancer.

Pragmatic staging of oesophageal cancer using decision theory involving selective endoscopic ultrasonography, PET and laparoscopy

BACKGROUND

Following CT, guidelines for staging oesophageal and gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ) cancer recommend endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), PET-CT and laparoscopy for T3-T4 GOJ tumours. These recommendations are based on generic utilities, but it is unclear whether the test risk outweighs the potential benefit for some patients. This study sought to quantify investigation risks, benefits and utilities, in order to develop pragmatic, personalized staging recommendations.

METHODS

All patients with a histological diagnosis of oesophageal or GOJ cancer staged between May 2006 and July 2013 comprised a development set; those staged from July 2013 to July 2014 formed the prospective validation set. Probability thresholds of altering management were calculated and predictive factors identified. Algorithms and models (decision tree analysis, logistic regression, artificial neural networks) were validated internally and independently.

RESULTS

Some 953 patients were staged following CT, by [(18) F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT (918), EUS (798) and laparoscopy (458). Of these patients, 829 comprised the development set (800 PET-CT, 698 EUS, 397 laparoscopy) and 124 the validation set (118 PET-CT, 100 EUS, 61 laparoscopy). EUS utility in the 71.8 per cent of patients with T2-T4a disease on CT was minimal (0.4 per cent), its risk exceeding benefit. EUS was moderately accurate for pT1 N0 disease. A number of factors predicted metastases on PET-CT and laparoscopy, although none could inform an algorithm. PET-CT altered management in 23.0 per cent, and laparoscopy in 7.1 per cent, including those with T2 and distal oesophageal tumours.

CONCLUSION

Although EUS provided additional information on T and N category, its risk outweighed potential benefit in patients with T2-T4a disease on CT. Laparoscopy seemed justified for distal oesophageal tumours of T2 or greater.

[Importance of PET in surgery of esophageal cancer]

Perioperative or preoperative radiochemotherapy (RCTx) is nowadays standard for locally advanced esophageal cancer in Europe, as randomized studies have shown a significant survival benefit for patients with multimodal treatment. As responders and nonresponders have a significantly different prognosis, a response-based tailored preoperative treatment would be of utmost interest. An established method is a metabolic response evaluation by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). The level of metabolic response is known to be dependent on the localization, tumor entity and type of preoperative treatment. Association of FDG-PET with later response and prognosis was shown for absolute standardized uptake values (SUV) or a decrease of SUV levels before and after therapy but there are also contradictory findings in the literature and no prospective validation. However, neither time points nor cut-off for metabolic response evaluation have been defined so far. The most interesting approach seems to be early response monitoring during preoperative chemotherapy, which has shown promising results in prospective single center trials (MUNICON I/II) during chemotherapy of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG), but needs to be validated in prospective multicenter trails.

Prognostic significance of novel ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT defined tumour variables in patients with oesophageal cancer

PURPOSE

(18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) is now established as a routine staging investigation of oesophageal cancer (OC). The aim of the study was to determine the prognostic significance of PET/CT defined tumour variables including maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax), tumour length (TL), metastatic length of disease (MLoD), metabolic tumour volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and total local nodal metastasis count (PET/CT LNMC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

103 pre-treatment OC patients (76 adenocarcinoma, 25 squamous cell carcinoma, 1 poorly differentiated and 1 neuroendocrine tumour) were staged using PET/CT. The prognostic value of the measured tumour variables were tested using log-rank analysis of the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox's proportional hazards method. Primary outcome measure was survival from diagnosis.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed all variables to have strong statistical significance in relation to survival. Multivariate analysis demonstrated three variables that were significantly and independently associated with survival; MLoD (HR 1.035, 95% CI 1.008-1.064, p=0.011), TLG (HR 1.002, 95% CI 1.000-1.003, p=0.018) and PET/CT LNMC (HR 0.048-0.633, 95% CI 0.005-2.725, p=0.015).

CONCLUSION

MLoD, TLG, and PET/CT LNMC are important prognostic indicators in OC. This is the first study to demonstrate an independent statistical association between TLG, MLoD and survival by multivariable analysis, and highlights the value of staging OC patients with PET/CT using functional tumour variables.

Prognostic Value of Metabolic Tumor Volume Measured by 18F-FDG PET/CT in Esophageal Cancer Patients

Objective: In this study, we aimed to explore prognostic importance of definition of preoperative metabolic tumor volume in esophageal cancer patients.

Methods: 22 patients who have histologically proven stage IIA-III esophageal cancer and underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for preoperative staging of disease were included to the study. After ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT, all the patients underwent surgery within 4 weeks period. Patients have been followed up until death or Sept 15^th, 2012. Dates of death were recorded for survival analysis. During evaluation of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT images, metabolic tumor volumes were calculated by drawing the isocontour region of interests from all visually positive FGD uptake lesions.

Results: 22 patients (15M, 7F; mean age: 65.1±8.4, min-max:48-80) underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for preoperative staging of esophageal cancer. Preoperative diagnosis was squamous cell and adeno cancer in 17 (%77) and 5 (%23) patients, respectively. Location of primary tumor is distal, proximal and mid-esophagus in 13 (%59), 6 (%27) and 3 (%13) patients, respectively. Primary tumor of all the patients were FDG avid (mean SUV_max: 18.85±7.0; range: 5.5-35.1). Additionally, ¹⁸F-FDG uptake was seen in mediastinal lymph nodes in 13 patients (5.45±8.15; range: 2.6-29.9). Mean metabolic tumor volumes of primary esophageal lesions were calculated as 8.77±8.46cm³ (range: 2.3-34.2). Mean MTV of lymph nodes was 2.44±1.01cm³ (range: 0.4-3.6). Mean total metabolic tumor volume was calculated as 9.99±8.58cm³ (range: 2.3-27.3). 10 patients died during 447±121 days follow-up period. Mean survival time was 11.9±1.5 months (95%CI: 8.99-14.74) for entire patient group. Total metabolic tumor volume had a significant effect on survival (p=0.045) according to Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. One unit increase in MTV caused 1.1 (95%CI:1.003-1.196) fold increase in hazard, at any time.

Conclusion: Definition of preoperative metabolic tumor volume has a prognostic value in the prediction of postoperative survival times. Patients who have higher preoperative metabolic tumor volumes could be good candidates for more aggressive chemo-radiation therapy regiments.

Conflict of interest:None declared.

Has integrated 18F FDG PET/CT improved staging, reduced early recurrence or increased survival in oesophageal cancer?

BACKGROUND

Survival in oesophageal cancer remains poor with high post-operative recurrence rates. PET/CT was introduced to the Three-Counties Cancer Network (3CCN) in 2006 to detect 'occult' metastatic disease not seen with conventional staging modalities. This study aims to determine whether the introduction of Integrated fluorodeoxyglucose (18F) Positron Emission Tomography (PET/CT) has changed the management, improved survival or reduced the rate of early post-operative recurrence in patients with operable oesophageal cancer.

METHODS

A retrospective review was undertaken of all patients diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in the 3CCN from 2005 to 2009. Early recurrence was defined as proven recurrence locally or at a distant site within one year of resection.

RESULTS

725 patients were identified. 200 (27.6%) patients underwent staging PET/CT. PET/CT altered treatment intent in 19 (9.5%) patients. 128 (17.7%) patients underwent oesophageal resection, 90 (70.3%) of which had a staging PET/CT. No significant difference was noted in post-operative mortality (4.4% Vs 5.3%, p = 0.8) or early recurrence where PET/CT was performed when adjusted for age, sex, stage or neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.761, OR 1.136[95% CI 0.499-2.585]). PET/CT had no significant effect on survival (log-rank test; Chi-square 0.710, p = 0.4).

CONCLUSION

PET/CT has improved the accuracy of oesophageal cancer staging avoiding potentially unnecessary surgery. Ultimately however, its use has had no effect on early recurrence or survival rates. Inaccurate identification of occult metastatic disease prior to the introduction of staging PET/CT does not appear to be the primary cause of early recurrence in patients with oesophageal cancer.

Evaluating the role of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography in multi-disciplinary team recommendations for oesophago-gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

National guidelines recommend that fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is performed in all patients being considered for radical treatment of oesophageal or oesophago-gastric cancer without computerised tomography scan (CTS) evidence of metastasis. Guidance also mandates that all patients with cancer have treatment decisions made within the context of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting. Little is known, however, about the influence of PET-CT on decision making within MDTs. The aim of this study was to assess the role of PET-CT in oesophago-gastric cancer on MDT decision making.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of a prospectively held database of all patients with biopsy-proven oesophageal or oesophago-gastric cancer discussed by a specialist MDT was interrogated. Patients selected for radical treatment without CTS evidence of M1 disease were identified. The influence of PET-CT on MDT decision making was examined by establishing whether the PET-CT confirmed CTS findings of M0 disease (and did not change the patient staging pathway) or whether the PET-CT changed the pathway by showing unsuspected M1 disease, refuting CTS suspicious metastases, or identifying another lesion (needing further investigation).

RESULTS

In 102 MDT meetings, 418 patients were discussed, of whom 240 were initially considered for radical treatment and 238 undergoing PET-CT. The PET-CT confirmed CTS findings for 147 (61.8%) and changed MDT recommendations in 91 patients (38.2%) by (i) identifying M1 disease (n=43), (ii) refuting CTS suspicions of M1 disease (n=25), and (iii) identifying new lesions required for investigations (n=23).

CONCLUSION

The addition of PET-CT to standard staging for oesophageal cancer led to changes in MDT recommendations in 93 (38.2%) patients, improving patient selection for radical treatment. The validity of the proposed methods for evaluating PET-CT on MDT decision making requires more work in other centres and teams.

Oesophageal cancer--an overview

Oesophageal carcinoma is one of the most virulent malignant diseases and a major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Diagnosis and accuracy of pretreatment staging have substantially improved throughout the past three decades. Therapy is challenging and the optimal approach is still debated. Oesophagectomy is considered to be the procedure of choice in patients with operable oesophageal cancer. Endoscopic measures and limited surgical procedures provide an alternative in patients with early carcinomas confined to the oesophageal mucosa. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy are also frequently applied, either as definitive treatment or as neoadjuvant therapy within multimodal approaches. The question of whether multimodal treatment offers improved results has been the focus of many studies since the 1990s. Although results are discordant and even some meta-analyses remain inconclusive, it is now widely accepted that multimodal therapy leads to a modest survival benefit. The role of minimally invasive oesophagectomy is not yet defined. Endoscopic stent insertion, radiotherapy and other palliative measures provide relief of tumour-related symptoms in advanced, unresectable tumour stages.

Prognostic significance of 18-FDG PET/CT and EUS-defined tumour characteristics in patients with oesophageal cancer

AIM

To determine the correlation between 2-[(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) defined maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and endoluminal ultrasound-defined tumour volume (EDTV) in patients with oesophageal cancer (OC) and their relative prognostic significance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and eighty-five consecutive patients with OC were staged using CT, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and PET/CT. The maximum potential EDTV was calculated (πr(2)L, where r = tumour thickness and L = total length of disease including proximal and distal lymph node metastases). Primary outcome measure was survival from diagnosis.

RESULTS

Ninety-one percent of patients (168/185) had FDG-avid tumours on PET/CT. SUVmax correlated positively and significantly with EDTV (Spearman's rho = 0.339, p = 0.001). On univariate analysis, survival was inversely related to the PET/CT lymph node metastasis count (LNMC, p = 0.015), EUS N stage (p = 0.002), EDTV (<48 cm(3), p = 0.001), EUS total length of disease (p = 0.001), SUVmax (p = 0.002), PET/CT N stage (p < 0.0001), and EUS LNMC (p < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis two factors were significantly and independently associated with survival: EDTV (HR, 3.118; 95% CI: 1.357-7.167; p = 0.007), and PET/CT N stage (HR, 0.496; 95% CI: 0.084-1.577; p = 0.022).

CONCLUSION

EDTV and PET/CT N stage were important predictors of survival and further research is needed to identify critical prognostic values.

Metabolic response at repeat PET/CT predicts pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in oesophageal cancer

OBJECTIVES

Reports have suggested that a reduction in tumour 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography (PET) examination during or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy may predict pathological response in oesophageal cancer. Our aim was to determine whether metabolic response predicts pathological response to a standardised neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen within a prospective clinical trial.

METHODS

Consecutive patients staged with potentially curable oesophageal cancer who underwent treatment within a non-randomised clinical trial were included. A standardised chemotherapy regimen (two cycles of oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil) was used. PET/CT was performed before chemotherapy and repeated 24-28 days after the start of cycle 2.

RESULTS

Forty-eight subjects were included: mean age 65 years; 37 male. Using the median percentage reduction in SUV(max) (42%) to define metabolic response, pathological response was seen in 71% of metabolic responders (17/24) compared with 33% of non-responders (8/24; P = 0.009, sensitivity 68%, specificity 70%). Pathological response was seen in 81% of subjects with a complete metabolic response (13/16) compared with 38% of those with a less than complete response (12/32; P = 0.0042, sensitivity 52%, specificity 87%). There was no significant histology-based effect.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significant association between metabolic response and pathological response; however, accuracy in predicting pathological response was relatively low.

Role of positron emission tomography-computed tomography in predicting survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery for oesophageal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET-CT) is increasingly being used in the staging of oesophageal cancer. Some recent reports suggest it may be used to predict survival. None of these studies, however, reported on the prognostic value of PET-CT performed before neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. The aim of this study was to determine whether pretreatment PET-CT could predict survival.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma who underwent PET-CT before neoadjuvant chemotherapy and resection were included. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)), fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid tumour length and the presence of FDG-avid local lymph nodes were determined for all patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed and multivariable analysis used to identify independent prognostic factors.

RESULTS

A total of 121 patients were included (mean age 63 years, 97 men) of whom 103 underwent surgical resection. On an intention-to-treat basis, overall survival was significantly worse in patients with FDG-avid local lymph nodes (P < 0·001). SUV(max) and FDG-avid tumour length did not predict survival (P = 0·276 and P = 0·713 respectively). The presence of FDG-avid local lymph nodes was an independent predictor of poor overall survival (hazard ratio (HR) 4·75, 95 per cent confidence interval 2·14 to 10·54; P < 0·001) and disease-free survival (HR 2·97, 1·40 to 6·30; P = 0·004).

CONCLUSION

The presence of FDG-avid lymph nodes, but not SUV(max) or FDG-avid tumour length, was an independent adverse prognostic factor.

Role of F18-FDG PET/CT in the Staging and Restaging of Esophageal Cancer: A Comparison with CECT

Esophageal cancer is one of the most fatal cancers principally because of its late presentation. CECT plays an important role in the staging of esophageal cancer but has some limitations. PET/CT which provides physiological information along with anatomical information and is a whole body imaging technique may therefore be a better alternative and thereby can facilitate selection or exclusion of patients for resection. The aim was to evaluate the performance of F18 FDG PET/CT in the staging and restaging of esophageal carcinoma compared to CECT using histopathologic findings and clinical follow-up as gold standard. Twenty eight patients with proven esophageal carcinoma, both preoperative and postoperative, were studied with CECT and F18 FDG PET/CT scan within an interval of 2 weeks. The PET/CT scan was acquired after injection of 370 MBq (10 mCi) F18-FDG and was evaluated for areas of increased focal uptake. CECT scan of chest and abdomen was done after injection of iodinated non-ionic contrast media. CECT findings suggested stage-IV disease in 16/28 (57.14%) patients and non stage-IV disease in 12/28 (42.86%) patients, whereas PET/CT suggested stage-IV disease in 23/28 (82.14%) patients and non stage-IV disease in 5/28 (17.86%) patients. Total nine patients were upstaged by PET/CT compared to CECT, out of which 7 (25%) were correctly upstaged and 2 (7.14%) were falsely upstaged. PET/CT improved our ability to detect distant metastases in 25% of patients that was missed by CECT. So, the use of F18 FDG PET/CT in esophageal cancer can alter management in significant number of patients.

The role of integrated F-18-FDG-PET scanning in the detection of M1 disease in oesophageal adenocarcinoma and impact on clinical management

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scanning in the staging of oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

One hundred four patients with biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma underwent (18)F-FDG-PET scan. FDG avid lesions were further investigated to their diagnostic conclusion.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients (18.26%) were found to have non-loco-regional FDG uptake. Of the patients, 3.84% were found to have M1 disease and 7.69% were found to have a second primary tumour. The sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET scanning to detect metastatic disease in our series was 57.14% and 84.53%, respectively. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 82.69%.

CONCLUSIONS

PET scanning improves staging and prevents unnecessary surgery in patients with M1 disease. It represents a good adjunct to computed tomography scanning and endoscopic ultrasound in the staging of oesophageal adenocarcinoma. The detection of asymptomatic coexisting synchronous cancers is an added benefit provided by PET scanning over similar diagnostic modalities.

The value of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/CT in oesophageal cancer

[¹⁸F]Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (CT) is recognized as a useful adjunct to conventional imaging with CT and endoscopic ultrasonography for the staging of oesophageal cancer, for response assessment and identification of recurrent disease and it may provide prognostic information.