Abstract
IntroductionIn prostate cancer patients, imaging of bone metastases is enhanced through the use of sodium fluoride positron emission tomography (18F-NaF PET/CT). This imaging technique shows areas of enhanced osteoblastic activity and blood flow. In this work, 18F-NaF PET/CT was investigated for response assessment to single fraction stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) to bone metastases in prostate cancer patients.MethodsPatients with bone metastases in a prospective trial treated with single fraction SABR received a 18F-NaF PET/CT scan prior to and 6 months post-SABR. The SUVmax in the tumour was determined and the difference between before and after SABR determined. The change in uptake in the non-tumour bone was also measured as a function of the received SABR dose.ResultsReduction in SUVmax was observed in 29 of 33 lesions 6 months after SABR (mean absolute decrease in SUVmax 17.7, 95% CI 25.8 to − 9.4, p = 0.0001). Of the three lesions with increased SUVmax post-SABR, two were from the same patient and located in the vertebral column. Both were determined to be local progression in addition to one fracture. The third lesion (in a rib) was shown to be controlled locally but suffered from a fracture at 24 months. Progression adjacent to the treated volume was observed in two patients. The non-tumour bone irradiated showed increased loss in uptake with increasing dose, with a median loss in uptake of 23.3% for bone receiving 24 Gy.Conclusion18F-NaF PET/CT for response assessment of bone metastases to single fraction SABR indicates high rates of reduction of osteoblastic activity in the tumour and non-tumour bone receiving high doses. The occurrence of marginal recurrence indicates use of larger clinical target volumes may be warranted in treatment of bone metastases.Trial registrationPOPSTAR, ‘Pilot Study of patients with Oligometastases from Prostate cancer treated with STereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy’, Universal Trial Number U1111-1140-7563, Registered 17th April 2013.
Highlights
In prostate cancer patients, imaging of bone metastases is enhanced through the use of sodium fluoride positron emission tomography (18F-NaF PET/CT)
In this study we examine 18F-NaF uptake prior to and after single fraction stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) to bone metastases in patients enrolled in a prospective clinical trial
We investigate 18F-NaF uptake in tumour and non-tumour bone, with the hypothesis that tumour and normal tissue response to SABR can be assessed by 18F-NaF PET/CT
Summary
In prostate cancer patients, imaging of bone metastases is enhanced through the use of sodium fluoride positron emission tomography (18F-NaF PET/CT) This imaging technique shows areas of enhanced osteoblastic activity and blood flow. The standard imaging for determination of prostate cancer bone metastases has been whole body bone scan with 2D scintigraphy or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) approaches, using 99mTc methylene diphosphonate [6, 7]. These tracers are taken up at sites of high osteoblastic activity representing bone turnover. Bone scans have many limitations such as poor anatomical correlation and low specificity and sensitivity [10, 11]
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