Prognostic Significance of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (PET)-based Parameters in Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Treatment of Esophageal Carcinoma

Aims and Background: The purpose of the research was to study the prognostic value of tumor 18F-FDGPET-based parameters in neoadjuvant chemoradiation for patients with squamous esophageal carcinoma.
Methods: Sixty patients received chemoradiation therapy followed by esophagectomy and two 18FDG-PETexaminations at pre- and post-radiation therapy. PET-based metabolic-response parameters were calculatedbased on histopathologic response. Linear regression correlation and Cox proportional hazards models wereused to determine prognostic value of all PET-based parameters with reference to overall survival.
Results:Sensitivity (88.2%) and specificity (86.5%) of a percentage decrease of SUVmax were better than other PETbasedparameters for prediction of histopathologic response. Only percentage decrease of SUVmax and tumorlength correlated with overall survival time (linear regression coefficient β: 0.704 and 0.684, P<0.05). The Coxproportional hazards model indicated higher hazard ratio (HR=0.897, P=0.002) with decrease of SUVmaxcompared with decrease of tumor size (HR=0.813, P=0.009).
Conclusion: Decrease of SUVmax and tumor sizeare significant prognostic factors in chemoradiation of esophageal carcinoma.