Positron emission tomography imaging as a cancer biomarker

Abstract

The practice of oncology is changing, with novel biologic agents broadening our therapeutic armamentarium. Along with excitement and promise, multiple new challenges arise. The concept of 'individualized cancer care,' where therapies are selected based on the unique characteristics of a patient's tumor, is gaining favor as an approach to address the heterogeneity of cancer. As a result, we must strive to discover biomarkers with prognostic and predictive value to improve drug selection, alteration and development. Metabolic and molecular imaging with PET appears at the forefront of this critical field. In this review, we discuss cancer biomarker development, opportunities for PET to elucidate tumor biology and the potential role of PET in clinical research and practice.

Tumour Markers and Molecular Imaging with FDG PET/CT in Breast Cancer: Their Combination for Improving the Prediction of Disease Relapse

“…The association of tumour markers and PET/CT also has an impact on patient management; many reports have described a change in planned therapy of about 50%. In a review, Yu et al (Yu et al 2007) discussed cancer biomarker development, opportunities for PET to elucidate tumour biology, and the potential role of PET in clinical research and practice. They underlined that the practice of oncology has been changing, with novel biologic agents broadening the therapeutic armamentarium.…”

Clinical Translation of Molecular Imaging Probes

“…As for other, better validated biomarkers, the imaging test could presumably prove its cost-effectiveness by obviating unnecessary or even harmful therapies. 28 The National Oncologic PET Registry (NOPR) opened in 2006 in order to enable systematic clinical data collection to assess the effect of FDG PET on patient management for cancer diagnosis, staging, restaging, recurrence, and therapeutic monitoring. 29 In 2007, CMS stated that the NOPR and similar registries are appropriate models for FDG PET reimbursement of expanded coverage for cancer-related indications as well as others.…”

Toward theragnostics

“…Imaging monitoring of response to new anticancer drugs has undergone an evolution (and a revolution) from structural imaging modalities to targeting functional metabolic activity at cellular level, to better define responsive and nonresponsive cancerous tissues. Positron emission tomography (PET) has already made a major contribution in this progress and it may be predicted that the development of novel PET tracers and improvements in technology will continue to augment the potential of PET and enhance its attractiveness as an instrument to facilitate drug development (40).…”