ITA-IMMUNO-PET: The Role of [18F]FDG PET/CT for Assessing Response to Immunotherapy in Patients with Some Solid Tumors
Authors: Evangelista Laura , Bianchi Andrea , Annovazzi Alessio , Sciuto Rosa , Di Traglia Silvia , Bauckneht Matteo , Lanfranchi Francesco , Morbelli Silvia , Nappi Anna Giulia , Ferrari Cristina , Rubini Giuseppe , Panareo Stefano , Urso Luca , Bartolomei Mirco , D’Arienzo Davide , Valente Tullio , Rossetti Virginia , Caroli Paola , Matteucci Federica , Aricò Demetrio , Bombaci Michelangelo , Caponnetto Domenica , Bertagna Francesco , Albano Domenico , Dondi Francesco , Gusella Sara , Spimpolo Alessandro , Carriere Cinzia , Balma Michele , Buschiazzo Ambra , Gallicchio Rosj , Storto Giovanni , Ruffini Livia , Cervati Veronica , Ledda Roberta Eufrasia , Cervino Anna Rita , Cuppari Lea , Burei Marta , Trifirò Giuseppe , Brugola Elisabetta , Zanini Carolina Arianna , Alessi Alessandra , Fuoco Valentina , Seregni Ettore , Deandreis Désirée , Liberini Virginia , Moreci Antonino Maria , Ialuna Salvatore , Pulizzi Sabina , De Rimini Maria Luisa 
Published: February 2023

AIM: To examine the role of [18F]FDG PET/CT for assessing response to immunotherapy in patients with some solid tumors. METHODS: Data recorded in a multicenter (n = 17), retrospective database between March and November 2021 were analyzed. The sample included patients with a confirmed diagnosis of a solid tumor who underwent serial [18F]FDG PET/CT (before and after one or more cycles of immunotherapy), who were >18 years of age, and had a follow-up of at least 12 months after their first PET/CT scan. Patients enrolled in clinical trials or without a confirmed diagnosis of cancer were excluded. The authors classified cases as having a complete or partial metabolic response to immunotherapy, or stable or progressive metabolic disease, based on a visual and semiquantitative analysis according to the EORTC criteria. Clinical response to immunotherapy was assessed at much the same time points as the serial PET scans, and both the obtained responses were compared. RESULTS: The study concerned 311 patients (median age: 67; range: 31–89 years) in all. The most common neoplasm was lung cancer (56.9%), followed by malignant melanoma (32.5%). Nivolumab was administered in 46.3%, and pembrolizumab in 40.5% of patients. Baseline PET and a first PET scan performed at a median 3 months after starting immunotherapy were available for all 311 patients, while subsequent PET scans were obtained after a median 6, 12, 16, and 21 months for 199 (64%), 102 (33%), 46 (15%), and 23 (7%) patients, respectively. Clinical response to therapy was recorded at around the same time points after starting immunotherapy for 252 (81%), 173 (56%), 85 (27%), 40 (13%), and 22 (7%) patients, respectively. After a median 18 (1–137) months, 113 (36.3%) patients had died. On Kaplan–Meier analysis, metabolic responders on the first two serial PET scans showed a better prognosis than non-responders, while clinical response became prognostically informative from the second assessment after starting immunotherapy onwards. CONCLUSIONS: [18F]FDG PET/CT could have a role in the assessment of response to immunotherapy in patients with some solid tumors. It can provide prognostic information and thus contribute to a patient’s appropriate treatment. Prospective randomized controlled trials are mandatory.