Long-term outcomes of cervical cancer patients with complete metabolic response after definitive chemoradiotherapy

Abstract

Objective: We investigated the importance of metabolic parameters measured with ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography integrated with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for predicting progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in cervical cancer with complete metabolic response (CMR) after chemoradiotherapy (ChRT).

Methods: The clinical data and PET parameters including standardized uptake value (SUV), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of 122 patients having CMR in post-treatment ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT delivered a median of 3.9 months after ChRT completion were analyzed.

Results: With a median follow-up of 8.4 years, 55 patients (45%) presented with disease a median of 19.7 months after ChRT. For SUVp, MTVp, TLGp, SUVln, MTVln, and TLGp, the cut-off values for OS determined by receiver operating curve analysis were 15.8, 48.7 cm³, 552.3, 8.7, 7.0 cm³, respectively. All metabolic PET parameters were significant prognostic factors for OS and PFS in univariate analysis. International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage was predictive of both OS and PFS, while pelvic and/or para-aortic lymph node metastasis were predictive of OS only. In multivariate analysis, FIGO stage ≥IIB, MTVp ≥49.8 cm³, and TLGp ≥597.4 were predictive of worse OS. Advanced stage, presence of lymph node metastasis, higher TLGp, and larger MTVln were significant factors for poor PFS rates.

Conclusion: We found that advanced stage and higher TLGp values were significant predictors for poor survival and higher progression rates. Volumetric PET parameters could be used to predict treatment outcomes in patients with CMR after definitive ChRT.

Keywords: Cervical Cancer; Positron Emission Tomography; Prognostic Factor; Radiotherapy; Survival.