Prognostic Value of Tumor Dissemination (Dmax) Derived from Basal 18F-FDG Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

: The aim of the present study was to test whether a parameter reflecting tumor dissemination (Dmax), derived from basal 18F-FDG PET/CT, may predict clinical outcome in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). : A total of 78 patients (55 men, 23 women) with stage III and IV NSCLC who had undergone whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT scan at diagnosis were included in this study. Imaging parameters of primary lung tumors along with total MTV (MTV) and whole-body TLG (TLG) of all malignant lesions were determined.

Coefficient of variation and texture analysis of 18F-FDG PET/CT images for the prediction of outcome in patients with multiple myeloma.

In multiple myeloma (MM) bone marrow infiltration by monoclonal plasma cells can occur in both focal and diffuse manner, making staging and prognosis rather difficult. The aim of our study was to test whether texture analysis of 18 F-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) images can predict survival in MM patients. Forty-six patients underwent 18 F-FDG-PET/CT before treatment.

Machine Learning and Texture Analysis of [F]FDG PET/CT Images for the Prediction of Distant Metastases in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients.

The aim of our study was to predict the occurrence of distant metastases in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients using machine learning methods and texture analysis of F-labeled 2-deoxy-d-glucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography {[F]FDG PET/CT} images. In this retrospective and single-center study, we evaluated 79 patients with advanced NSCLC who had undergone [F]FDG PET/CT scan at diagnosis before any therapy. Patients were divided into two independent training ( = 44) and final testing ( = 35) cohorts.

Coefficient of Variation in Metastatic Lymph Nodes Determined by F-FDG PET/CT in Patients with Advanced NSCLC: Combination with Coefficient of Variation in Primary Tumors.

Purpose The aim of the present study was to test whether the coefficient of variation (CoV) of F-FDG PET/CT images of metastatic lymph nodes and primary tumors may predict clinical outcome in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods Fifty-eight NSCLC patients who had undergone F-FDG PET/CT at diagnosis were evaluated. SUVmax, SUVmean, CoV, MTV and TLG were determined in targeted lymph nodes and corresponding primary tumors along with Total MTV (MTV) and Whole-Body TLG (TLG) of all malignant lesions.

Heterogeneity of Glycolytic Phenotype Determined by F-FDG PET/CT Using Coefficient of Variation in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

We investigated the role of Coefficient of Variation (CoV), a first-order texture parameter derived from F-FDG PET/CT, in the prognosis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients. Eighty-four patients with advanced NSCLC who underwent F-FDG PET/CT before therapy were retrospectively studied. SUVmax, SUVmean, CoV, total Metabolic Tumor Volume (MTV) and whole-body Total Lesion Glycolysis (TLG) were determined by an automated contouring program (SUV threshold at 2.

Diagnosis, Management and Theragnostic Approach of Gastro-Entero-Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.

Gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) constitute an ideal target for radiolabeled somatostatin analogs. The theragnostic approach is able to combine diagnosis and therapy by the identification of a molecular target that can be diagnosed and treated with the same radiolabeled compound. During the last years, advances in functional imaging with the introduction of somatostatin analogs and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, have improved the diagnosis and treatment of GEP-NENs.

What molecular imaging of cancer patients can teach us about COVID-19.

COVID-19 pandemic had a great impact on health systems and cancer care worldwide. Patients with cancer who develop COVID-19 are at high risk of severe outcomes and clarifying the determinants of such vulnerability of cancer patients would be of great clinical benefit. While the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been elucidated, the pathogenetic pathways leading to severe manifestations of the disease are largely unknown.

Liposomal doxorubicin supercharge-containing front-line treatment in patients with advanced-stage diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or classical Hodgkin lymphoma: Preliminary results of a single-centre phase II study.

We evaluated the impact of liposomal doxorubicin (NPLD) supercharge-containing therapy on interim fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (interim-FDG-PET) responses in high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or classical Hodgkin lymphoma (c-HL). In this phase II study (2016-2021), 81 adult patients with advanced-stage DLBCL (n = 53) and c-HL (n = 28) received front-line treatment with R-COMP-dose-intensified (DI) and MBVD-DI. R-COMP-DI consisted of 70 mg/m of NPLD plus standard rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone for three cycles (followed by three cycles with NPLD de-escalated at 50 mg/m ); MBVD-DI consisted of 35 mg/m of NPLD plus standard bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine for two cycles (followed by four cycles with NPLD de-escalated at 25 mg/m ).

Heterogeneity of SSTR2 Expression Assessed by Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT Using Coefficient of Variation in Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors.

High levels of somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2) are a prerequisite for therapy with unlabeled or labeled somatostatin analogs. However, it is still unclear how the heterogeneity of SSTR2 expression may affect tumor response to therapy. The aim of our study was to test the ability of an imaging parameter such as coefficient of variation (CoV) derived from PET/CT with Ga-peptides in the evaluation and quantification of the heterogeneity of SSTR2 expression within primary and metastatic lesions of patients with neuroendocrine tumors.

PET-Based Volumetric Biomarkers for Risk Stratification of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients.

Despite the recent advances in lung cancer biology, molecular pathology, and treatment, this malignancy remains the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form found at diagnosis. Accurate staging of the disease is a fundamental prognostic factor that correctly predicts progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of NSCLC patients. However, outcome of patients within each TNM staging group can change widely highlighting the need to identify additional prognostic biomarkers to better stratify patients on the basis of risk.

Brain Metastases Unresponsive to Immunotherapy Detected by 18F-FDG-PET/CT in a Patient with Melanoma.

Recently, newer therapies such as immunotherapy have been increasingly used in the treatment of several tumors, including advanced melanoma. In particular, several studies showed that the combination of ipilimumab, an anti-Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte Associated Protein 4 (CTLA-4) monoclonal antibody and nivolumab, an anti-Programmed Death 1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody, leads to improved survival in patients with metastatic melanoma. Despite that, immunotherapeutic agents may not reach therapeutic concentration in the brain due to the blood-brain barrier.

Total metabolic tumor volume by 18F-FDG PET/CT for the prediction of outcome in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective: Metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) are imaging parameters derived from 18F-FDG PET/CT that have been proposed for risk stratification of cancer patients. The aim of our study was to test whether these whole-body volumetric imaging parameters may predict outcome in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Sixty-five patients (45 men, 20 women; mean age ± SD, 65 ± 12 years), with histologically proven NSCLC who had undergone 18F-FDG PET/CT scan before any therapy, were included in the study.

PET/CT in radiation oncology.

The progressive integration of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging in radiation therapy has its rationale in the biological intertumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity of malignant lesions that require the individual adjustment of radiation dose to obtain an effective local tumor control in cancer patients. PET/CT provides information on the biological features of tumor lesions such as metabolism, hypoxia, and proliferation that can identify radioresistant regions and be exploited to optimize treatment plans. Here, we provide an overview of the basic principles of PET-based target volume selection and definition using F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) and then we focus on the emerging strategies of dose painting and adaptive radiotherapy using different tracers.

2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in primary extranodal lymphomas: treatment response evaluation and prognosis.

Background: We evaluated the role of [18F]FDG PET/CT in tumor response assessment and prognosis of primary extranodal lymphoma (PEL) patients.

Methods: We examined retrospectively, 56 PEL patients: 31 with aggressive diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and 25 with indolent lymphoma (20 mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and five follicular lymphoma). All patients had undergone [18F]FDG PET/CT at diagnosis (PET-I) and 50 of them also after therapy (PET-II).

The antiproliferative effect of pasireotide LAR alone and in combination with everolimus in patients with medullary thyroid cancer: a single-center, open-label, phase II, proof-of-concept study.

Purpose: Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a neuroendocrine tumour of the thyroid C cells. Pasireotide, a multi-receptor targeted somatostatin analogue, and everolimus, an inhibitor of mTOR, showed antitumour properties in neuroendocrine tumours. Aim of this study was to evaluate pasireotide alone and in combination with everolimus in patients with MTC.