Visualization of tumor hypoxia and re-oxygenation after stereotactic body radiation therapy in early peripheral lung cancer: A prospective study

Abstract

Background and purposeIn this study, fluoromisonidazole positron emission tomography (F-MISO PET/CT) was used to evaluate tumor hypoxia and re-oxygenation in patients with lung tumors treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Materials and methodsPatients with T1-2 N0 lung cancer were included in this study. The prescribed dose was 48–52 Gy in four fractions. F-MISO PET/CT was performed twice, before SBRT and 1–3 days after the first irradiation. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and tumor/muscle ratio (TMR) were evaluated as indicators of hypoxia. The threshold for hypoxia was defined as a TMR of 1.30 or more. ResultsBetween 2016 and 2021, 15 patients were included. Pre-treatment tumor hypoxia was observed in nine tumors (60 %). TMR in all six tumors without pre-treatment hypoxia rose after single high-dose irradiation. In contrast, TMR in six of nine tumors with pre-treatment hypoxia dropped after irradiation, suggesting re-oxygenation. Although no local recurrence was noted, regional and/or distant relapses were seen in four patients (27 %). Of these, three had tumors with abnormal F-MISO uptake. The remaining patient had a tumor without signs of hypoxia on pre-treatment PET/CT. The 2-year progression free survival of patients with tumors with and without pre-treatment hypoxia were 30 % and 63 %, respectively (p = 0.319). ConclusionTumor hypoxia reduced after single high-dose irradiation. Tumor with F-MISO uptake seems to be an unfavorable prognostic factor in lung SBRT.