Prognostic Significance of18F-FDG Uptake in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Transarterial Chemoembolization or Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of (18)F-FDG uptake in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who had transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or concurrent intraarterial chemotherapy with external-beam radiotherapy (CCRT) and to compare the prognosis between patients treated with TACE and those with CCRT according to (18)F-FDG uptake. Two hundred fourteen intermediate-to-advanced-stage HCC patients without extrahepatic metastasis who underwent staging (18)F-FDG PET/CT before TACE (153 patients) or CCRT (61 patients) were recruited from 7 hospitals. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared using an optimal cutoff value for tumor-to-normal liver uptake ratio (TLR). Further, PFS and OS were compared according to treatment modalities (TACE vs. CCRT) using the same TLR cutoff value. On multivariate analysis, age and TLR were independent prognostic factors for PFS (P< 0.050). For OS, Child-Pugh classification and TLR were independent prognostic factors (P< 0.050). When the TLR was greater than 2.0, patients treated with CCRT showed significantly better PFS and OS than those treated with TACE after adjusting for tumor size and number (P= 0.014, for all). In contrast, there was no significant difference in PFS and OS between patients treated with TACE or CCRT when the TLR was 2.0 or less. (18)F-FDG uptake was an independent prognostic factor for PFS and OS in HCC patients treated with TACE or CCRT. Especially, in HCCs with high (18)F-FDG uptake, patients treated with CCRT showed better survival than those treated with TACE. (18)F-FDG PET/CT may help determine the treatment modality for intermediate-to-advanced-stage HCCs.