Prognostic Value of TSPO PET Before Radiotherapy in Newly Diagnosed IDH–Wild-Type Glioblastoma

Abstract

The 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) is gaining recognition as a relevant target in glioblastoma imaging. However, data on the potential prognostic value of TSPO PET imaging in glioblastoma are lacking. Therefore, we investigated the association of TSPO PET imaging results with survival outcome in a homogeneous cohort of glioblastoma patients. Methods: Patients were included who had newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)–wild-type glioblastoma with available TSPO PET before either normofractionated radiotherapy combined with temozolomide or hypofractionated radiotherapy. SUV_max on TSPO PET, TSPO binding affinity status, tumor volumes on MRI, and further clinical data, such as O⁶-alkylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene promoter mutation status, were correlated with patient survival. Results: Forty-five patients (median age, 63.3 y) were included. Median SUV_max was 2.2 (range, 1.0–4.7). A TSPO PET signal was associated with survival: High uptake intensity (SUV_max > 2.2) was related to significantly shorter overall survival (OS; 8.3 vs. 17.8 mo, P = 0.037). Besides SUV_max, prognostic factors for OS were age (P = 0.046), MGMT promoter methylation status (P = 0.032), and T2-weighted MRI volume (P = 0.031). In the multivariate survival analysis, SUV_max in TSPO PET remained an independent prognostic factor for OS (P = 0.023), with a hazard ratio of 2.212 (95% CI, 1.115–4.386) for death in cases with a high TSPO PET signal (SUV_max > 2.2). Conclusion: A high TSPO PET signal before radiotherapy is associated with significantly shorter survival in patients with newly diagnosed IDH–wild-type glioblastoma. TSPO PET seems to add prognostic insights beyond established clinical parameters and might serve as an informative tool as clinicians make survival predictions for patients with glioblastoma.