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Metabolic Activity by 18F-FDG-PET/CT Is Prognostic for Stage I and II Pancreatic Cancer
Jose M Pimiento1, Ashley H Davis-Yadley, Richard D Kim
1From the *Surgical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute; and †Internal Medicine, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL.
Clinical Nuclear Medicine
|December 18, 2015
Summary
Low fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on PET scans in early-stage pancreatic cancer indicates better overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS), suggesting its prognostic value.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Metabolic activity, measured by F-FDG uptake via PET, is a known prognostic marker for various cancers.
- The prognostic significance of FDG PET imaging in early-stage (I-II) pancreatic cancer has not been previously established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prognostic value of F-FDG uptake on PET scans in patients with stage I and II pancreatic cancer.
- To determine the correlation between FDG uptake levels and patient survival outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 105 patients with stage I-II pancreatic cancer who underwent preoperative FDG PET scans was analyzed.
- Patients were stratified into high or low FDG uptake groups based on the median primary tumor SUVmax.
- Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis.
Main Results:
- One hundred five patients were identified, with 51 in the low FDG uptake group and 54 in the high uptake group.
- High FDG uptake was significantly correlated with pathologic stage (P = 0.012).
- Patients with low FDG uptake demonstrated significantly better median OS (28 vs. 16 months; P = 0.036) and RFS (14 vs. 12 months; P = 0.049) compared to those with high uptake.
Conclusions:
- Low F-FDG uptake on PET scans is a significant predictor of improved OS and RFS in early-stage pancreatic cancer patients.
- These findings highlight the importance of glucose metabolic pathways in pancreatic cancer.
- FDG PET scan activity can serve as a valuable prognostic biomarker following pancreatectomy.
