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Prognostic value of 18F‐FDG PET for hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with sorafenib
Author(s) -
Lee Jae Hoon,
Park Jun Yong,
Kim Do Young,
Ahn Sang Hoon,
Han KwangHyub,
Seo Hyo Jung,
Lee Jong Doo,
Choi Hye Jin
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02541.x
Subject(s) - sorafenib , medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , standardized uptake value , confidence interval , positron emission tomography , gastroenterology , carcinoma , nuclear medicine , liver cancer , oncology
Background: Sorafenib (Nexavar) is an orally active multikinase inhibitor that is approved for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we used 18 F‐2‐fluoro‐2‐deoxyglucose ( 18 F‐FDG) with positron emission tomography (PET) to predict the treatment outcome of sorafenib in patients with advanced HCC. Materials and methods: A total of 29 patients with HCC were included. Baseline 18 F‐FDG PET scans were performed a median of 14 days before sorafenib treatment. Sorafenib was administered orally at a dose of 400 mg twice daily. For statistical analysis, the standardized uptake value (SUV) of the most hypermetabolic lesion was obtained and assigned as the SUVmax for each patient. Results: Among 29 patients, one patient achieved partial remission and 14 patients showed stable disease. The overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were 5.1 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0–12.0] and 3.8 months (95% CI: 1.4–6.2). The multivariate analysis of OS showed that four indices, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, α‐fetoprotein (AFP) concentration, portal vein thrombosis and SUVmax were significant prognostic factors ( P =0.030, P =0.024, P =0.020 and P =0.015 respectively). AFP concentration and SUVmax were independent prognostic factors for PFS, too ( P =0.003 and P =0.026 respectively). When the patients were divided into two groups: low SUVmax ( n =10; <5.00) and high SUVmax ( n =19;≥5.00), the low SUV group showed significantly longer OS and PFS ( P =0.023 and P =0.042 respectively). Conclusion: Our study showed that the degree of FDG uptake is an independent prognostic factor in patients with HCC who undergo sorafenib treatment.