[ 18 F]FDG PET/CT for evaluating early response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pediatric patients with sarcoma: a prospective single-center trial

Introduction This is a prospective, single-center trial in pediatric patients with sarcoma aiming to evaluate [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT as a tool for early response assessment to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (neo-CTX). Methods Bone or soft tissue sarcoma patients with (1) baseline [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT within 4 weeks prior to the start of neo-CTX (PET1), (2) early interim [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT (6 weeks after the start of neo-CTX (PET2), (3) evaluation of neo-CTX response by histology or MRI, and (4) definitive therapy after neo-CTX (surgery or radiation) were included. Semiquantitative PET parameters (SUVmax, SUVmean, SUVpeak, MTV and TLG) and their changes from PET1 to PET2 (ΔPET) were obtained. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the predictive value of PET1, PET2 and ΔPET parameters for overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP). The secondary outcome was to evaluate if [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT can predict the response to neo-CTX assessed by histopathology or MRI. Primary and secondary outcomes were also evaluated in a subpopulation of patients with bone involvement only. Results Thirty-four consecutive patients were enrolled (10 females; 24 males; median age 15.1 years). 17/34 patients (50%) had osteosarcoma, 13/34 (38%) Ewing's sarcoma, 2/34 (6%) synovial sarcoma and 2/34 (6%) embryonal liver sarcoma. Median follow-up was 39 months (range 16–84). Eight of 34 patients (24%) died, 9/34 (27%) were alive with disease, and 17/34 (50%) had no evidence of residual/recurrent disease. Fifteen of 34 (44%) and 19/34 (56%) were responders and non-responders, respectively. PET2-parameters were associated with longer TTP ( p < 0.02). ΔMTV was associated with tissue response to neo-CTX ( p = 0.047). None of the PET1, PET2 or ΔPET parameters were associated with OS. Conclusion [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT performed 6 weeks after the start of neo-CTX can serve as an early interim biomarker for TTP and pathologic response but not for OS in pediatric patients with sarcoma.