Measuring response to chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer: methodological considerations.

Abstract

In this review the findings of response monitoring studies in breast cancer, using [(18)F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) and positron emission tomography (PET), are summarised. These studies indicate that there is a strong relationship between response and decrease in FDG signal even at an early stage of therapy. The review concentrates on methodological aspects of monitoring response with FDG: timing of serial scans, approach to region of interest definition, method of quantification and pitfalls of FDG. It is argued that, for clinical applications, there is now a need to standardise methodology. This would be necessary to establish firm cut-off values for discriminating responders from non-responders, which in turn would provide a means for providing optimal treatment for as many patients as possible.

• Authors: Nanda C Krak, Otto S Hoekstra, Adriaan A Lammertsma
• Journal: European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging (Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging) Vol. 31 Suppl 1 Pg. S103-11 (Jun 2004) ISSN: 1619-7070 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 15103507 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Breast Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Decision Support Systems, Clinical
• Female
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Humans
• Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted (methods)
• Lymph Nodes (diagnostic imaging)
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Neoplasm Staging (methods)
• Positron-Emission Tomography (methods)
• Practice Guidelines as Topic
• Practice Patterns, Physicians' (standards)
• Prognosis
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Reproducibility of Results
• Risk Assessment (methods, standards)
• Risk Factors
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Treatment Outcome