Role of FDG-PET/CT in Assessment of Response to Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients

Youniss, Jehan

doi:10.21608/egyjnm.2013.5456

Role of FDG-PET/CT in Assessment of Response to Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients

Document Type : Original Paper, Oncology

Author

Jehan Youniss

Department Of Oncology & Nuclear Medicine,(NEMROCK), Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo

10.21608/egyjnm.2013.5456

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to assess the role
of FDG PET/CT in evaluation of early
response to chemotherapy after 2-3 cycles
and late response after 6 cycles of
chemotherapy to define responders from
non-responders to treatment in breast
cancer patients. Patients and Methods
This prospective study included 52 female
patients with locally advanced breast
cancer, Group 1: Included 27 patients
referred for PET/CT for assessment of
primary lesion following 2-3 cycles of
chemotherapy, twenty patients underwent a
baseline study before initiation of therapy.
Group 2: Included 25 patients with
recurrent breast cancer referred for PET/CT
following 6 cycles of chemotherapy for
assessment of disease remission. They
underwent a midline study after 2-3 cycles
of chemotherapy. Results Only 4
patients out of 27 of group 1 showed
significant early metabolic response with
decrease of SUV value by (65.8%)
following 2-3 cycles of treatment with
significant reduction of mean SUV max
implicating good response to therapy
(p<0.005), while 23 patients showed partial
metabolic response, with reduction of mean
SUV max (36.2%). Nineteen out of 25
patients of group 2 (76%) showed
significant metabolic response on
completion of 6 cycles of chemotherapy
with significant reduction of mean SUV
max (69.6%) impressive of good therapy
response (p<0.0001), while the other 6
patients (24%) showed poor metabolic
response with mean reduction of SUV max
of 30.8% and evidences of metastatic
disease signifying poor therapy response.
Conclusion: PET-CT seems to be useful
for monitoring response to chemotherapy
in locally advanced breast cancer
differentiating responder from nonresponder in therapy evaluation.

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