ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) are neuroendocrine skin tumours frequently responsible for lymph node recurrence and metastatic disease and for which optimal management remains to be defined. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG)-PET/computed tomography (CT) on the staging and treatment of MCC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with a histologic diagnosis of MCC explored by (18)F-FDG-PET/CT between 2004 and 2012 were retrospectively included in the study. The detection of new lesions and the change in tumour staging and treatment were evaluated. For each patient, the (18)F-FDG-PET/CT results were compared with histological, clinical and imaging data. RESULTS: Sixty-six (18)F-FDG-PET/CT scans were performed at initial presentation (n=18), during subsequent monitoring (n=34) or during evaluation of chemotherapy response (n=14). The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of the (18)F-FDG-PET/CT were 97, 89, 94 and 94%, respectively. Two false-positive results (lymphadenitis) and one false-negative result (regional metastatic lymph nodes) were accounted for. Lesions not detected clinically or by conventional imaging techniques were found in 44% of the 52 (18)F-FDG-PET/CTs performed at initial presentation and subsequent monitoring, with, respectively, 50 and 41% of scans identifying new lesions. At initial presentation, (18)F-FDG-PET/CT led to a change in tumour staging in 39% of patients. Patient management was modified by (18)F-FDG-PET/CT results in one-third of patients (33% of patients at initial presentation, 32% during subsequent monitoring and 36% during evaluation of chemotherapy response). F-FDG-PET/CT incidentally detected four additional histologically confirmed cancers. CONCLUSION: This retrospective study confirms the important impact of (18)F-FDG-PET/CT on the management of MCC patients.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell/diagnosis , Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 , Multimodal Imaging , Positron-Emission Tomography , Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Carcinoma, Merkel Cell/diagnostic imaging , Carcinoma, Merkel Cell/pathology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Neoplasm Staging , Recurrence , Retrospective Studies , Skin Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Skin Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
To date, glioblastoma treatments have only been palliative. In this context, locoregional drug delivery strategies, which allow for blood--brain barrier bypass and reduced systemic toxicity, are of major significance. Recent progress in nanotechnology has led to the development of colloidal carriers of radiopharmaceutics, such as lipid nanocapsules loaded with rhenium-188 (LNC(188)Re-SSS) that are implanted in the brain. In our study, we demonstrated that fractionated internal radiation using LNC(188)Re-SSS triggered remarkable survival responses in a rat orthotopic glioma model (cure rates of 83%). We also highlighted the importance of the radioactivity activity gradient obtained by combining a simple stereotactic injection (SI) with convection-enhanced delivery (CED).We assumed that the immune system played a role in the treatment's efficacy on account of the overproduction of peripheral cytokines, recruitment of immune cells to the tumor site, and memory response in long-term survivor animals. Hence, nanovectorized internal radiation therapy with activity gradients stimulating immune responses may represent a new and interesting alternative for the treatment of solid tumors such as glioblastomas.
