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Early metabolic responses in temozolomide treated low-grade glioma patients

  • Clinical Study - Patient Study
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Abstract

Amino acid transport and protein synthesis are important steps of tumor growth. We investigated the time course of tumor metabolism in low-grade gliomas (LGG) during temozolomide chemotherapy, and compared metabolic responses as measured with positron emission tomography (PET) with volume responses as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging (MR). A homogeneous population of 11 patients with progressive non-enhancing LGG was prospectively studied. Imaging was done at 6-months intervals starting six months, and in a second series starting three months after treatment initiation. F-18 fluoro-ethyl-l-tyrosine (FET) uptake was quantified with PET as metabolically active tumor volume, and was compared with the tumor volume on MR. Response was defined as ≥10% reduction of the initial tumor volume. Eight patients showed metabolic responses. Already 3 months after start of chemotherapy the active FET volumes decreased in 2 patients to a mean of 44% from baseline. First MR volume responses were noted at 6 months. Responders showed a volume reduction to 31 ± 23% (mean ± SD) from baseline for FET, and to 73 ± 26% for MR. The time to maximal volume reduction was 8.0 ± 4.4 months for FET, and 15.0 ± 3.0 months for MR. The initial metabolic response correlated with the best volume response on MR (Spearman Rank P = 0.011). Deactivation of amino acid transport represents an early indicator of chemotherapy response in LGG. Response assessment based on MR only has to be reconsidered. The time window obtained from PET may assist for individual treatment decisions in LGG patients.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants of the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK) and by Essex Chemie AG, Luzern, Switzerland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PET Center, Division of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland

    Matthias Wyss

  2. Department of Oncology, University Hospital, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland

    Silvia Hofer

  3. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cantonal Hospital, 5001, Aarau, Switzerland

    Matthias Bruehlmeier

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital, 5001, Aarau, Switzerland

    Martin Hefti

  5. Department of Oncology and Hematology, Cantonal Hospital, 5001, Aarau, Switzerland

    Catrina Uhlmann & Esther Bärtschi

  6. Department of Neurology, Cantonal Hospital, 5001, Aarau, Switzerland

    Ulrich Wolf Buettner & Ulrich Roelcke

Authors
  1. Matthias Wyss
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  2. Silvia Hofer
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  3. Matthias Bruehlmeier
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  4. Martin Hefti
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  5. Catrina Uhlmann
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  7. Ulrich Wolf Buettner
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  8. Ulrich Roelcke
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Correspondence to Ulrich Roelcke.

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Wyss, M., Hofer, S., Bruehlmeier, M. et al. Early metabolic responses in temozolomide treated low-grade glioma patients. J Neurooncol 95, 87–93 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-009-9896-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-009-9896-2

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