1
|
Ghodsi A, Hicks RJ, Iravani A. PET/Computed Tomography Transformation of Oncology: Immunotherapy Assessment. PET Clin 2024; 19:291-306. [PMID: 38199917 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpet.2023.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy approaches have changed the treatment landscape in a variety of malignancies with a high anti-tumor response. Immunotherapy may be associated with novel response and progression patterns that pose a substantial challenge to the conventional criteria for assessing treatment response, including response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) 1.1. In addition to the morphologic details provided by computed tomography (CT) and MRI, hybrid molecular imaging emerges as a comprehensive imaging modality with the capacity to interrogate pathophysiological mechanisms like glucose metabolism. This review highlights the current status of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in prognostication, response monitoring, and identifying immune-related adverse events. Furthermore, it investigates the potential role of novel immuno-PET tracers that could complement the utilization of 18F-FDG PET/CT by imaging the specific pathways involved in immunotherapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Ghodsi
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, 1144 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Rodney J Hicks
- Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Australia; Department of Medicine, Central Clinical School, The Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; The Melbourne Theranostic Innovation Centre, North Melbourne, Australia
| | - Amir Iravani
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, 1144 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bozorgmehr F, Müller A, Rawluk J, Sianidou M, Chung I, Kropf-Sanchen C. Immune checkpoint inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer - When should we dare to stop treatment? Lung Cancer 2023; 184:107340. [PMID: 37657237 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2023.107340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Over the last years, the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has revolutionized the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients in a palliative setting with previously very poor prognosis may now show remarkable responses over years. Yet, ICI therapy is very cost-intensive and involves frequent contacts with healthcare resources. Some of the early trial protocols restricted ICI treatment duration to two years. Now follow-up data of these studies is available and reveal the possibility of a persistent response after two or more years without further treatment for patients having successfully completed two years of therapy. May we now dare to think (and speak) of cure in the palliative setting? Does it mean we can stop ICI therapy after an initial two-year treatment? In this review, we try to improve confidence in clinical decision-making for this patient group. To this end, trials with a restricted treatment duration of two years and other data considering potential ICI discontinuation in responding patients were evaluated. Up to 25% of patients successfully complete an initial two-year course of ICI. Within this group about 40-46% of patients are alive at five years without further treatment with five-year survival rates of up to 83%. Data on ICI rechallenge are scarce, yet it does not seem to provide the same level of efficacy as at first exposure. At present there are no established biomarkers to help with decision-making. Possible future (bio-)markers, such as PD-L1, mutations, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) or Positron emission tomography (PET) need to be evaluated further in a prospective setting. In conclusion, we propose that the concept of discontinuing ICI therapy in patients with tumor response has to be seriously taken into consideration as it may be of benefit to our patients and health care systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farastuk Bozorgmehr
- Thoraxklinik and National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Röntgenstr. 1, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany and German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Germany
| | - Annette Müller
- Department of Pulmonology, Oncology, Ventilation Medicine, Catholic Hospital Marienhof, Rudolf-Virchow-Str. 7-9, 56073 Koblenz, Germany
| | - Justyna Rawluk
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maria Sianidou
- Thoraxklinik and National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Röntgenstr. 1, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany and German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Germany
| | - Inn Chung
- Thoraxklinik and National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Röntgenstr. 1, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany and German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Germany
| | - Cornelia Kropf-Sanchen
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany; DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute at the University Medical Center Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany; Division of Personalized Medical Oncology (A420), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Germany; Department of Personalized Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, German.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Berz AM, Dromain C, Vietti-Violi N, Boughdad S, Duran R. Tumor response assessment on imaging following immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2022; 12:982983. [PMID: 36387133 PMCID: PMC9641095 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.982983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, various systemic immunotherapies have been developed for cancer treatment, such as monoclonal antibodies (mABs) directed against immune checkpoints (immune checkpoint inhibitors, ICIs), oncolytic viruses, cytokines, cancer vaccines, and adoptive cell transfer. While being estimated to be eligible in 38.5% of patients with metastatic solid or hematological tumors, ICIs, in particular, demonstrate durable disease control across many oncologic diseases (e.g., in melanoma, lung, bladder, renal, head, and neck cancers) and overall survival benefits. Due to their unique mechanisms of action based on T-cell activation, response to immunotherapies is characterized by different patterns, such as progression prior to treatment response (pseudoprogression), hyperprogression, and dissociated responses following treatment. Because these features are not encountered in the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1), which is the standard for response assessment in oncology, new criteria were defined for immunotherapies. The most important changes in these new morphologic criteria are, firstly, the requirement for confirmatory imaging examinations in case of progression, and secondly, the appearance of new lesions is not necessarily considered a progressive disease. Until today, five morphologic (immune-related response criteria (irRC), immune-related RECIST (irRECIST), immune RECIST (iRECIST), immune-modified RECIST (imRECIST), and intra-tumoral RECIST (itRECIST)) criteria have been developed to accurately assess changes in target lesion sizes, taking into account the specific response patterns after immunotherapy. In addition to morphologic response criteria, 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) is a promising option for metabolic response assessment and four metabolic criteria are used (PET/CT Criteria for Early Prediction of Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy (PECRIT), PET Response Evaluation Criteria for Immunotherapy (PERCIMT), immunotherapy-modified PET Response Criteria in Solid Tumors (imPERCIST5), and immune PERCIST (iPERCIST)). Besides, there is evidence that parameters on 18F-FDG-PET/CT, such as the standardized uptake value (SUV)max and several radiotracers, e.g., directed against PD-L1, may be potential imaging biomarkers of response. Moreover, the emerge of human intratumoral immunotherapy (HIT-IT), characterized by the direct injection of immunostimulatory agents into a tumor lesion, has given new importance to imaging assessment. This article reviews the specific imaging patterns of tumor response and progression and available imaging response criteria following immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonia M. Berz
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Radiology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Clarisse Dromain
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Naïk Vietti-Violi
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Boughdad
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rafael Duran
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Prospective assessment using 18F-FDG PET/CT as a novel predictor for early response to PD-1 blockade in non-small-cell lung cancer. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11832. [PMID: 35821395 PMCID: PMC9276827 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15964-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) blockade is a standard treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, no appropriate modality exists for monitoring its therapeutic response immediately after initiation. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the clinical relevance of 18F-FDG PET/CT versus CT in predicting the response to PD-1 blockade in the early phase. This prospective study included a total of 54 NSCLC patients. 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed at 4 weeks and 9 weeks after PD-1 blockade monotherapy. Maximum standardized uptake values (SULmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were evaluated. Among all patients, partial metabolic response and progressive metabolic disease after PD-1 blockade were observed in 35.2% and 11.1% on SULmax, 22.2% and 51.8% on MTV, and 27.8% and 46.3% on TLG, respectively, whereas a partial response (PR) and progressive disease (PD), respectively, based on RECIST v1.1 were recognized in 35.2% and 35.2%, respectively. The predictive probability of PR (MTV: 57.9% vs. 21.1%, p = 0.044; TLG: 63.2% vs. 21.1%, p = 0.020) and PD (MTV: 78.9% vs. 47.3%, p = 0.002; TLG: 73.7% vs. 21.1%, p = 0.007) detected based on RECIST at 4 weeks after PD-1 blockade initiation was significantly higher using MTV or TLG on 18F-FDG uptake than on CT. Multivariate analysis revealed that metabolic response by MTV or TLG at 4 weeks was an independent factor for response to PD-1 blockade treatment. Metabolic assessment by MTV or TLG was superior to morphological changes on CT for predicting the therapeutic response and survival at 4 weeks after PD-1 blockade.
Collapse
|
5
|
Ma VT, Chamila Perera AA, Sun Y, Sitto M, Waninger JJ, Warrier G, Green MD, Fecher LA, Lao CD. Early Response Assessment in Advanced Stage Melanoma Treated with Combination Ipilimumab/Nivolumab. Front Immunol 2022; 13:860421. [PMID: 35874737 PMCID: PMC9296775 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.860421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Standard combination ipilimumab/nivolumab (I/N) is given as 4 induction doses for advanced stage melanoma followed by nivolumab single-agent maintenance therapy. While many patients receive less than 4 doses due to immune-related toxicities, it is unclear if fewer doses of I/N may still provide long term clinical benefit. Our aim is to determine if response assessment after 1 or 2 doses of I/N can predict long-term survival and assess if fewer doses of I/N can lead to similar survival outcomes. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis on a cohort of patients with advanced melanoma who w0ere treated with standard I/N. Cox regression of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) models were performed to assess the relationship between response after 1 or 2 doses of I/N and risk of progression and/or death. Clinical benefit response (CBR) was assessed, defined as SD (stable disease) + PR (partial response) + CR (complete response) by imaging. Among patients who achieved a CBR after 1 or 2 doses of I/N, a multivariable Cox regression of survival was used to compare 1 or 2 vs 3 or 4 doses of I/N adjusted by known prognostic variables in advanced melanoma. Results 199 patients were evaluated. Patients with CBR after 1 dose of I/N had improved PFS (HR: 0.16, 95% CI 0.08-0.33; p<0.001) and OS (HR: 0.12, 0.05-0.32; p<0.001) compared to progressive disease (PD). Patients with CBR (vs PD) after 2 doses of I/N also had improved PFS (HR: 0.09, 0.05-0.16; p<0.001) and OS (HR: 0.07, 0.03-0.14; p<0.001). There was no survival risk difference comparing 1 or 2 vs 3 or 4 doses of I/N for PFS (HR: 0.95, 0.37-2.48; p=0.921) and OS (HR: 1.04, 0.22-4.78; p=0.965). Conclusions Early interval imaging with response during induction with I/N may be predictive of long-term survival in advanced stage melanoma. CBR after 1 or 2 doses of I/N is associated with favorable survival outcomes, even in the setting of fewer I/N doses received. Further studies are warranted to evaluate if electively administering fewer combination I/N doses despite tolerance in select patients may balance the benefits of therapy while decreasing toxicities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent T. Ma
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Palliative Care, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Vincent T. Ma,
| | | | - Yilun Sun
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Merna Sitto
- Department of Medical Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jessica J. Waninger
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Medical Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Govind Warrier
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Michael D. Green
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Veteran Affairs Ann Arbor Hospital System, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Leslie A. Fecher
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Christopher D. Lao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yao Y, Zhou X, Zhang A, Ma X, Zhu H, Yang Z, Li N. The role of PET molecular imaging in immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in lung cancer: Precision medicine and visual monitoring. Eur J Radiol 2022; 149:110200. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2022.110200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
7
|
Lopci E. Immunotherapy Monitoring with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Based on [ 18F]FDG PET/CT in Metastatic Melanomas and Lung Cancer. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10215160. [PMID: 34768681 PMCID: PMC8584484 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10215160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors has prompted a major change not only in cancer treatment but also in medical imaging. In parallel with the implementation of new drugs modulating the immune system, new response criteria have been developed, aiming to overcome clinical drawbacks related to the new, unusual, patterns of response characterizing both solid tumors and lymphoma during the course of immunotherapy. The acknowledgement of pseudo-progression, hyper-progression, immune-dissociated response and so forth, has become mandatory for all imagers dealing with this clinical scenario. A long list of acronyms, i.e., irRC, iRECIST, irRECIST, imRECIST, PECRIT, PERCIMT, imPERCIST, iPERCIST, depicts the enormous effort made by radiology and nuclear medicine physicians in the last decade to optimize imaging parameters for better prediction of clinical benefit in immunotherapy regimens. Quite frequently, a combination of clinical-laboratory data with imaging findings has been tested, proving the ability to stratify patients into various risk groups. The next steps necessarily require a large scale validation of the most robust criteria, as well as the clinical implementation of immune-targeting tracers for immuno-PET or the exploitation of radiomics and artificial intelligence as complementary tools during the course of immunotherapy administration. For the present review article, a summary of PET/CT role for immunotherapy monitoring will be provided. By scrolling into various cancer types and applied response criteria, the reader will obtain necessary information for better understanding the potentials and limitations of the modality in the clinical setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Egesta Lopci
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, IRCCS-Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, MI, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Differential role of residual metabolic tumor volume in inoperable stage III NSCLC after chemoradiotherapy ± immune checkpoint inhibition. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2021; 49:1407-1416. [PMID: 34664091 PMCID: PMC8921088 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-021-05584-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The PET-derived metabolic tumor volume (MTV) is an independent prognosticator in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We analyzed the prognostic value of residual MTV (rMTV) after completion of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in inoperable stage III NSCLC patients with and without immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI). METHODS Fifty-six inoperable stage III NSCLC patients (16 female, median 65.0 years) underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT after completion of standard CRT. rMTV was delineated on 18F-FDG PET/CT using a standard threshold (liver SUVmean + 2 × standard deviation). 21/56 patients underwent additional ICI (CRT-IO, 21/56 patients) thereafter. Patients were divided in volumetric subgroups using median split dichotomization (MTV ≤ 4.3 ml vs. > 4.3 ml). rMTV, clinical features, and ICI-application were correlated with clinical outcome parameters (progression-free survival (PFS), local PFS (LPFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS Overall, median follow-up was 52.0 months. Smaller rMTV was associated with longer median PFS (29.3 vs. 10.5 months, p = 0.015), LPFS (49.9 vs. 13.5 months, p = 0.001), and OS (63.0 vs. 23.0 months, p = 0.003). CRT-IO patients compared to CRT patients showed significantly longer median PFS (29.3 vs. 11.2 months, p = 0.034), LPFS (median not reached vs. 14.0 months, p = 0.016), and OS (median not reached vs. 25.2 months, p = 0.007). In the CRT subgroup, smaller rMTV was associated with longer median PFS (33.5 vs. 8.6 months, p = 0.001), LPFS (49.9 vs. 10.1 months, p = 0.001), and OS (63.0 vs. 16.3 months, p = 0.004). In the CRT-IO subgroup, neither PFS, LPFS, nor OS were associated with MTV (p > 0.05 each). The findings were confirmed in subsequent multivariate analyses. CONCLUSION In stage III NSCLC, smaller rMTV is highly associated with superior clinical outcome, especially in patients undergoing CRT without ICI. Patients with CRT-IO show significantly improved outcome compared to CRT patients. Of note, clinical outcome in CRT-IO patients is independent of residual MTV. Hence, even patients with large rMTV might profit from ICI despite extensive tumor load.
Collapse
|