The predictive value of 18F-FDG-PET early evaluation in patients with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma treated with chemotherapy plus cetuximab

Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the therapy-induced reduction of the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) maximum standardized uptake value in patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma treated with chemotherapy plus cetuximab could predict the objective response and outcome early during the treatment. The study was performed as a part of a phase II trial evaluating cetuximab plus the leucovorin/5-fluorouracil/irinotecan (FOLFIRI) regimen. The objective response was evaluated according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) every 6 weeks. The early metabolic response evaluated by 18F-FDG-PET was assessed according to our own evaluated cutoff value (P = 0.0016) and 16 versus 6 months (P = 0.1493), respectively. The early metabolic response evaluated by 18F-FDG-PET predicted the clinical outcome in this series of patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with chemotherapy plus cetuximab.

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