Different 18F‐FDG PET parameters for the prediction of histological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pediatric Ewing sarcoma family of tumors

Abstract

The histological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in pediatric patients with Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) can predict the disease-free survival. Therefore, a noninvasive method for response assessment is needed. Using the currently established imaging modalities, mass reduction does not always correlate with the percentage of necrosis. To determine the potential role of 18 fluorine-labeled fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18 F-FDG PET) metabolic parameters in the prediction of poor histological response to NAC in pediatric patients with ESFT. Thirty-six patients who were treated with NAC and surgery at the Children's Cancer Hospital, Egypt, were prospectively included in this study. All patients underwent two studies; a PET/CT study before NAC and another one after NAC completion. Metabolic PET parameters were measured in each study. The ability of each of these parameters, their pretreatment and pre-local control values, as well as the percentage reduction between their pretreatment and pre-local control values, were evaluated to differentiate between good and poor responders using the histological response as a standard reference. Neither the pretreatment value nor the percentage reduction of any of the measured PET parameters predicted poor histological response. After NACcompletion, metabolic tumor volume (MTV) at the threshold of an SUV of 2.5 isocontour (MTV(2.5)post ), MTV at the threshold of hepatic reference SUVmean (MTV(HR)post ), and total lesion glycolysis at the threshold of hepatic reference SUVmean (TLG(HR)post ) predicted poor histological response (P =0.006, 0.018, and 0.003, respectively). The cutoff values of 90% reduction of TLG(HR) and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax)post ≤2.5 could differentiate between good and poor responders. FDG PET parameters can predict poor histological response to NAC in ESFT patients. MTV and TLG at the thresholds of an SUV of 2.5 isocontour and hepatic reference SUVmean are the two most promising thresholds in predicting the response of patients. The cutoff value of SUVmaxpost ≤2.5 predicts poor histological response.