Novel applications of molecular imaging to guide breast cancer therapy
Christine E Edmonds1, Sophia R O'Brien2, David A Mankoff2
1Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University if Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. Christine.edmonds@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Abstract:
The goals of precision oncology are to provide targeted drug therapy based on each individual's specific tumor biology, and to enable the prediction and early assessment of treatment response to allow treatment modification when necessary. Thus, precision oncology aims to maximize treatment success while minimizing the side effects of inadequate or suboptimal therapies. Molecular imaging, through noninvasive assessment of clinically relevant tumor biomarkers across the entire disease burden, has the potential to revolutionize clinical oncology, including breast oncology. In this article, we review breast cancer positron emission tomography (PET) imaging biomarkers for providing early response assessment and predicting treatment outcomes. For 2-18fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG), a marker of cellular glucose metabolism that is well established for staging multiple types of malignancies including breast cancer, we highlight novel applications for early response assessment. We then review current and future applications of novel PET biomarkers for imaging the steroid receptors, including the estrogen and progesterone receptors, the HER2 receptor, cellular proliferation, and amino acid metabolism.
Insights
Precision oncology uses molecular imaging to personalize breast cancer treatment. Positron emission tomography (PET) biomarkers offer early assessment of treatment response and prediction of outcomes, improving patient success rates.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Imaging
- Radiochemistry
Background:
- Precision oncology aims to tailor treatments to individual tumor biology for improved outcomes and reduced side effects.
- Molecular imaging offers noninvasive assessment of tumor biomarkers, potentially revolutionizing clinical oncology, especially breast cancer care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review breast cancer positron emission tomography (PET) imaging biomarkers.
- To highlight their role in early response assessment and treatment outcome prediction.
Main Methods:
- Review of current and novel PET imaging biomarkers for breast cancer.
- Focus on 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) for metabolic assessment.
- Exploration of PET biomarkers for steroid receptors, HER2, proliferation, and amino acid metabolism.
Main Results:
- FDG PET has established roles in staging and novel applications for early response assessment in breast cancer.
- Emerging PET biomarkers show promise for evaluating steroid receptors, HER2, proliferation, and metabolism.
Conclusions:
- PET imaging biomarkers are crucial for precision oncology in breast cancer.
- These biomarkers enable early treatment response assessment and outcome prediction, facilitating personalized therapy adjustments.
