Prognostic significance of (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography after treatment in patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Objective: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents 15% to 25% of lung cancers. Despite favorable initial treatment response rates, recurrence is likely and long-term prognosis dismal.Accurate measurement of therapy response is critical to determine which patients might be spared additional treatment, and potential side effects. Results: Twenty-two patients (~7%) had post-treatment PET: 11 positive, 11 negative. Median duration from last chemotherapy to PET was 36 days (range, 3 to 125 days). Median follow-up for all patients was 34.4 months (range, 6.8 to 65.9 months). Estimated median progression-free survival for all patients was 8.1 months (95% confidence intervals [CI], 4.3 to 11.9 months), 10.5 months for PET negative (95% CI, 8.1 to >57.8 months) and 4.3 months for PET positive patients (95% CI, 2.8 to >7.2 months) (P<0.007, log-rank test).