Abstract Background In the present study early response assessment by O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (FET) positron emission tomography (PET) and contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were investigated in a phase II open-label single-centre study of nivolumab plus bevacizumab for recurrent high grade astrocytic glioma Methods Twenty patients with non-resectable first recurrence of high grade astrocytic glioma after EORTC/NCIC protocol underwent [18F]FET PET/MRI at baseline and after 2 cycles of treatment. Whole brain values of contrast enhancing volume on MRI (CEV), of mean (TBRmean) and maximal tumour-to-background ratio (TBRmax) and of metabolically active volume (MTV) on [18F]FET PET were obtained. Regional changes in [18F]FET uptake were assessed by parametric response mapping (PRM). Prediction of overall survival (OS) and response (OS>11 months) were assessed by Cox and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, respectively. Also, MRI (RANO 2.0) and PET based (PET RANO 1.0) response assessment criteria were compared. Results In ROC analysis responders were separated (p<0.05) from non-responders by lower MTV at follow-up (AUC 0.771, cut-off 18.3 ml), larger decrease in MTV (AUC 0.757, cut-off -5.3 ml), larger decrease in both TBRmax (AUC 0.814, cut-off -0.53) and relative TBRmax (AUC 0.829, cut-off -11%) and smaller PRM progressive volume (AUC 0.843, cut-off 4.0 ml). Change in CEV did not predict response. RANO 2.0 and PET RANO response assessment criteria had similar and only borderline prognostic value. Conclusion The study indicates that [18F]FET PET is superior to contrast enhanced MRI for early response assessment in patients with recurrent high grade astrocytic glioma treated with nivolumab and bevacizumab.