Abstract
BackgroundStudies suggest that patients with metastases limited in number and destination organ benefit from metastasis-directed therapy. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is commonly used for metastasis directed therapy in this group. However, the characterization of PET response following SBRT is unknown in this population. We analyzed our cohort of patients to describe the PET response following SBRT.MethodsPatients enrolled on a prospective dose escalation trial of SBRT to all known sites of metastatic disease were reviewed to select patients with pre- and post-therapy PET scans. Response to SBRT was characterized on PET imaging based on standard PET response criteria and compared to CT based RECIST criteria for each treated lesion.Results31 patients had PET and CT data available before and after treatment for analysis in this study. In total, 58 lesions were treated (19 lung, 11 osseous, 11 nodal, 9 liver, 6 adrenal and 2 soft tissue metastases). Median follow-up was 14 months (range: 3–41). Median time to first post-therapy PET was 1.2 months (range; 0.5-4.1). On initial post-therapy PET evaluation, 96% (56/58) of treated metastases responded to therapy. 60% (35/58) had a complete response (CR) on PET and 36% (21/58) had a partial response (PR). Of 22 patients with stable disease (SD) on initial CT scan, 13 had CR on PET, 8 had PR, and one had SD. Of 21 metastases with PET PR, 38% became CR, 52% remained PR, and 10% had progressive disease on follow-up PET. 10/35 lesions (29%) with an initial PET CR progressed on follow-up PET scan with median time to progression of 4.11 months (range: 2.75-9.56). Higher radiation dose correlated with long-term PET response.ConclusionsPET response to SBRT enables characterization of metastatic response in tumors non-measurable by CT. Increasing radiation dose is associated with prolonged complete response on PET.
Highlights
Studies suggest that patients with metastases limited in number and destination organ benefit from metastasis-directed therapy
We evaluated the utility of positron emission tomography (PET) as an indicator of treatment response in oligometastatic patients undergoing Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Patients included in this analysis were selected from participants in an IRB approved dose escalation study assessing the role of SBRT to all known sites of metastases in oligometastatic patients
Initial response to therapy On initial post-therapy PET evaluation, 96% (56 of 58) of treated metastases responded to therapy
Summary
Studies suggest that patients with metastases limited in number and destination organ benefit from metastasis-directed therapy. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is commonly used for metastasis directed therapy in this group. The characterization of PET response following SBRT is unknown in this population. We analyzed our cohort of patients to describe the PET response following SBRT. The standard treatment for most metastatic cancer patients is usually chemotherapy or hormonal deprivation. Response assessment following SBRT is typically performed via computed tomography (CT) scans with each individual lesion measured using RECIST criteria [12]. Osseous metastases are not measureable by standard RECIST criteria, complicating assessment of treatment response in these regions commonly involved with oligometastases
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