18FDG PET Assessment of Therapeutic Response in Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Melanoma Treated with First-Line Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are currently the first-line treatment for patients with metastatic melanoma. We investigated the value of positron emission tomography (PET) response criteria to assess the therapeutic response to first-line ICI in this clinical context and explore the potential contribution of total tumor metabolic volume (TMTV) analysis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in patients treated with first-line ICI for advanced or metastatic melanoma, with 18F-FDG PET/CT performed at baseline and 3 months after starting treatment.

Translating Molecules into Imaging-The Development of New PET Tracers for Patients with Melanoma.

Melanoma is a deadly disease that often exhibits relentless progression and can have both early and late metastases. Recent advances in immunotherapy and targeted therapy have dramatically increased patient survival for patients with melanoma. Similar advances in molecular targeted PET imaging can identify molecular pathways that promote disease progression and therefore offer physiological information.

Yield of FDG PET/CT for Defining the Extent of Disease in Patients with Kaposi Sarcoma.

Background: Positron emission tomography/computed tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18) (FDG PET/CT) is increasingly used in Kaposi sarcoma (KS), but its value has not been assessed.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of FDG PET/CT to define the extent of disease in KS.

Methods: Consecutive patients with KS referred to our department for FDG PET/CT were included.

First Extensive Analysis of F-Labeled Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography in a Large Cohort of Patients With HIV-Associated Hodgkin Lymphoma: Baseline Total Metabolic Tumor Volume Affects Prognosis.

Purpose: F-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (F-FDG PET-CT) data in HIV-associated Hodgkin lymphoma (HIV-HL) are scarcely reported. In addition to the description of the characteristics of both baseline and interim F-FDG PET-CT examinations (PET1 and iPET, respectively), the aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of PET1 and previously identified clinical parameters in this population.

Patients And Methods: PET1 of 109 patients with HIV-HL, treated with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine chemotherapy regimen since 2007, and 104 iPET were centrally reviewed.

Predictive factors of early progression after CAR T-cell therapy in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has emerged as an option for relapsed/refractory aggressive B-cell lymphomas that have failed 2 lines of therapy. Failures usually occur early after infusion. The purpose of our study was to identify factors that may predict failure, particularly early progression (EP), within the first month after infusion.

Intermittent Versus Continuous Dosing of MAPK Inhibitors in the Treatment of BRAF-Mutated Melanoma.

The development of BRAF and MEK inhibitors (BRAFi/MEKi) has led to major advances in melanoma treatment. However, the emergence of resistance mechanisms limits the benefit duration and a complete response occurs in less than 20% of patients receiving BRAFi ± MEKi. In this study, we evaluated the impact of an intermittent versus continuous dosing schedule of BRAF/MEK inhibition in a melanoma model mildly sensitive to a BRAF inhibitor.

FDG-PET/CT and molecular markers to predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and outcome in HER2-negative advanced luminal breast cancers patients.

Background: The efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens in advanced luminal breast cancer patients is difficult to predict. Intrinsic properties of breast tumors, including altered gene expression profile and dynamic evaluation of metabolic properties of tumor cells using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) of tumor cells, have been identified to guide patient's prognosis. The aim of this study is to determine if both analyses may improve the prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in ER-positive / HER2-negative breast cancers (BCs) patients.

Assessing Bone Marrow Activity in Patients with Myelofibrosis: Results of a Pilot Study of F-FLT PET.

An emerging noninvasive approach to assess tissue proliferation uses the PET tracer 3'-deoxy-3'-F-fluorothymidine (F-FLT). To evaluate the diagnostic value of this technique in myelofibrosis, F-FLT PET imaging results were compared with bone marrow histology and bone marrow scintigraphy (BMS), the gold standard techniques in this clinical situation. Fifteen patients with histology-proven myelofibrosis were included consecutively in the study.

Correlation between tumour characteristics, SUV measurements, metabolic tumour volume, TLG and textural features assessed with F-FDG PET in a large cohort of oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients.

Purpose: The study was designed to evaluate 1) the relationship between PET image textural features (TFs) and SUVs, metabolic tumour volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and tumour characteristics in a large prospective and homogenous cohort of oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer (BC) patients, and 2) the capability of those parameters to predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods: 171 consecutive patients with large or locally advanced ER+ BC without distant metastases underwent an F-FDG PET examination before NAC. The primary tumour was delineated with an adaptive threshold segmentation method.

FDG-PET/CT for predicting the outcome in ER+/HER2- breast cancer patients: comparison of clinicopathological parameters and PET image-derived indices including tumor texture analysis.

Background: This study investigated the value of some clinicopathological parameters and 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) indices, including textural features, to predict event-free survival (EFS) in estrogen receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+/HER2-) locally advanced breast cancer (BC) patients.

Methods: FDG-PET/CT indices and clinicopathological parameters were assessed before neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). After completion of chemotherapy, all patients had breast surgery with axillary lymph node dissection, followed by radiation therapy and endocrine therapy for 5 years.

[F]MEL050 as a melanin-targeted PET tracer: Fully automated radiosynthesis and comparison to F-FDG for the detection of pigmented melanoma in mice primary subcutaneous tumors and pulmonary metastases.

Introduction: Melanoma is a highly malignant cutaneous tumor of melanin-producing cells. MEL050 is a synthetic benzamide-derived molecule that specifically binds to melanin with high affinity. Our aim was to implement a fully automated radiosynthesis of [F]MEL050, using for the first time, the AllInOne™ synthesis module (Trasis), and to evaluate the potential of [F]MEL050 for the detection of pigmented melanoma in mice primary subcutaneous tumors and pulmonary metastases, and to compare it with that of [F]FDG.

Priming Dental Pulp Stem Cells With Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 Increases Angiogenesis of Implanted Tissue-Engineered Constructs Through Hepatocyte Growth Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Secretion.

Tissue engineering strategies based on implanting cellularized biomaterials are promising therapeutic approaches for the reconstruction of large tissue defects. A major hurdle for the reliable establishment of such therapeutic approaches is the lack of rapid blood perfusion of the tissue construct to provide oxygen and nutrients. Numerous sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) displaying angiogenic potential have been characterized in the past years, including the adult dental pulp.

¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for the Early Evaluation of Response to Neoadjuvant Treatment in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Influence of the Chemotherapy Regimen.

Unlabelled: Patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have poor outcome when pathologic complete response (pCR) is not reached after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Early prediction would be helpful. We evaluated the association between metabolic response after 2 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, pCR, and outcome in patients receiving 2 different anthracycline-based regimens (conventional and intensified).

18F-Choline PET/CT and Prostate MRI for Staging Patients With Biochemical Relapse After Irradiation for Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the value of combining MRI and F-fluorocholine (FCH) PET/CT for patients with a biochemical relapse (BR) after prostate radiotherapy or brachytherapy.

Patients And Methods: All patients with a BR (BR definition: nadir prostate-specific antigen, +2 ng/mL) had a multiparametric MRI and FCH PET/CT if there was no clinical sign of relapse. Identification of the relapse was considered positive if both imaging techniques were concordant or in case of pathological relapse confirmation.

Do clinical, histological or immunohistochemical primary tumour characteristics translate into different (18)F-FDG PET/CT volumetric and heterogeneity features in stage II/III breast cancer?

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine if some features of baseline (18)F-FDG PET images, including volume and heterogeneity, reflect clinical, histological or immunohistochemical characteristics in patients with stage II or III breast cancer (BC).

Methods: Included in the present retrospective analysis were 171 prospectively recruited patients with stage II/III BC treated consecutively at Saint-Louis hospital. Primary tumour volumes were semiautomatically delineated on pretreatment (18)F-FDG PET images.

Early Metabolic Response to Neoadjuvant Treatment: FDG PET/CT Criteria according to Breast Cancer Subtype.

Purpose: To investigate parameters based on fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomographic (PET) imaging that are best correlated with pathologic complete response (PCR) in human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-positive cancer and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and with partial or complete response in ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by institutional review board with waivers of informed written consent and included consecutive patients treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Five PET examination-derived parameters were tested: standard uptake value (SUV) maximum (SUV(max)), peak (SUV(peak)), and mean (SUV(mean)), metabolically active tumor volume, and total lesion glycolysis (TLG).

Baseline Tumor 18F-FDG Uptake and Modifications After 2 Cycles of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Are Prognostic of Outcome in ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer.

Unlabelled: This study investigated whether (18)F-FDG PET/CT performed at baseline and during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) was able to early depict estrogen receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+/HER2-) breast cancer patients with poor clinical outcome.

Methods: The NAC regimen consisted of 4 cycles of epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide, followed by 4 courses of docetaxel. The patients underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT at baseline and after 2 cycles of chemotherapy.

¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT in staging, restaging, and treatment response assessment of male breast cancer.

Purpose: Male breast cancer (BC) is a rare disease, with patterns different from those found in women. Most tumors are detected at more advanced stages than in women. The aim of this study was to analyze the performance of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG-PET/CT) in staging, restaging, and therapy response assessment.

Performance of FDG PET/CT at initial diagnosis in a rare lymphoma: nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma.

Purpose: Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare Hodgkin lymphoma distinguished from classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) by the nature of the neoplastic cells which express B-cell markers. We wanted to determine the diagnostic performance of FDG PET/CT in initial assessment and its therapeutic impact on staging.

Methods: We retrospectively studied a population of 35 patients with NLPHL (8 previously treated for NLHPL, 27 untreated).

Early assessment with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography can help predict the outcome of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in triple negative breast cancer.

Background: In patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), pathology complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is associated with improved prognosis. This prospective study was designed and powered to investigate the ability of interim (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)FDG-PET/CT) to predict pathology outcomes to NAC early during treatment.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive TNBC women underwent (18)FDG-PET/CT at baseline and after two courses of NAC.

Role of SPECT/CT in sentinel lymph node detection in patients with breast cancer.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the published literature to assess the role (indications, advantages, and limitations) of SPECT/CT for the detection of sentinel lymph node (SLN) in breast cancer.

Methods: The authors searched PubMed for published literature in English addressing this topic.

Results: Eleven studies, published since 2006, focused on the role and value of SPECT/CT for SLN detection (SLND).