Early FDG PET/CT Scanning May Predict Treatment Response in Melanoma
Source: Cancer Network, February 2024
Imaging after 1 week of treatment with pembrolizumab may help identify treatment responses in patients with metastatic melanoma.
Early 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)- PET/ CT imaging may identify metabolic changes that correspond with treatment response and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with advanced melanoma receiving pembrolizumab (Keytruda), according to an observational study (NCT02791594) published in Clinical Cancer Research.
A metabolic flare (MF) or a metabolic response (MR) was identified in 6 of 11 (55%) responders and 0 of 8 (0%) non–responders, with an objective response rate (ORR) of 100% in the MF-MR group and an ORR of 38% in the stable metabolism (SM) group. The overall survival at 3 years was 83% in the MF-MR group compared with 62% in the SM group. Median PFS was more than 38 months (median not reached) in the MF-MR group and 2.8 months (95% CI, 0.3-5.2) in the SM group (P = 0.017).