PET-CT for response assessment and treatment adaptation in head and neck cancer

Summary Preferred treatment strategies for advanced-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck have shifted from surgery to organ-preservation approaches such as radiotherapy, which can be combined with chemotherapy or giving of biologically modifying molecules. Preclinical and clinical rese...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The lancet oncology 2010-07, Vol.11 (7), p.661-669
Main Authors: Bussink, Johan, Dr, van Herpen, Carla ML, MD, Kaanders, Johannes HAM, Prof, Oyen, Wim JG, Prof
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cancer therapies
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnostic imaging
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - therapy
Cell growth
Chemotherapy
Drug Monitoring
Head & neck cancer
Head and Neck Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging
Head and Neck Neoplasms - therapy
Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine
Humans
Hypoxia
Medical prognosis
Neoplasm, Residual - diagnostic imaging
Patients
Positron-Emission Tomography
Predictive Value of Tests
Radiation therapy
Radiopharmaceuticals
Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
Signal transduction
Surgery
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Tumors
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Summary:Summary Preferred treatment strategies for advanced-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck have shifted from surgery to organ-preservation approaches such as radiotherapy, which can be combined with chemotherapy or giving of biologically modifying molecules. Preclinical and clinical researchers aim to customise these treatments on the basis of biological tumour characteristics, including tumour cell proliferation, hypoxia, and apoptosis—important resistance mechanisms for cytotoxic antitumour therapy. Monitoring of these biologically relevant variables before and early during treatment could improve patient selection for specific treatment strategies and guide adaptation of treatment at an early stage. PET provides a non-invasive molecular imaging method with the potential ability to undertake repetitive non-invasive quantification of relevant tumour characteristics. We discuss the role of PET scanning and available radiopharmaceutical tracers for treatment selection, early response monitoring, and treatment adaptation in head and neck cancer.
ISSN:1470-2045
1474-5488
DOI:10.1016/S1470-2045(09)70353-5