Correlation Between Standardized Uptake Value in Preneoadjuvant and Postneoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy and Tumor Regression Grade in Patients With Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer

Purpose: To investigate whether positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) initial and restaging imaging predicts for pathologic response measured by tumor regression grade (TRG) after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. Methods: A retrospective review of 220 patients with stage II-III esophageal cancer treated with neoadjuvant CRT followed by surgery was performed. In total, 187 patients were eligible for statistical analysis. Pretreatment and posttreatment PET/CT scans were reviewed. Maximum standard uptake value (SUV) at the site of the primary tumor was recorded before and 6 weeks after neoadjuvant therapy. Upon completion of surgery, TRG was determined by a specialized site-specific gastrointestinal pathologist. Spearman correlation was used to compare pre, post, and change in maximum SUV, TRG, and overall survival. Results: The median follow-up was 24 months. Although no significant correlation was found between pretreatment SUV and TRG (r=0.073, P=0.32), post-CRT SUV, however, showed a significant positive correlation with TRG (r=0.374, P
Source: American Journal of Clinical Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Original Articles: Thoracic Source Type: research