Belinda A Campbell1, Jason Callahan2, Mathias Bressel3, Nathalie Simoens2, Sarah Everitt4, Michael S Hofman2, Rodney J Hicks2, Kate Burbury5, Michael MacManus6. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: Belinda.Campbell@petermac.org. 2. Centre for Molecular Imaging, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Australia. 3. Centre for Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Australia. 4. Radiotherapy Services, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Australia. 5. Department of Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Australia. 6. Department of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Australia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Proliferating bone marrow is exquisitely sensitive to ionizing radiation. Knowledge of its distribution could improve radiation therapy planning to minimize unnecessary marrow exposure and avoid consequential prolonged myelosuppression. [18F]-Fluoro-3-deoxy-3-L-fluorothymidine (FLT)-positron emission tomography (PET) is a novel imaging modality that provides detailed quantitative images of proliferating tissues, including bone marrow. We used FLT-PET imaging in cancer patients to produce an atlas of marrow distribution with potential clinical utility. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The FLT-PET and fused CT scans of eligible patients with non-small cell lung cancer (no distant metastases, no prior cytotoxic exposure, no hematologic disorders) were reviewed. The proportions of skeletal FLT activity in 10 predefined bony regions were determined and compared according to age, sex, and recent smoking status. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were studied: 67% male; median age 68 (range, 31-87) years; 8% never smokers; 70% no smoking in the preceding 3 months. Significant differences in marrow distribution occurred between sex and age groups. No effect was detected from smoking in the preceding 3 months. Using the mean percentages of FLT uptake per body region, we created an atlas of the distribution of functional bone marrow in 4 subgroups defined by sex and age. CONCLUSIONS: This atlas has potential utility for estimating the distribution of active marrow in adult cancer patients to guide radiation therapy planning. However, because of interindividual variation it should be used with caution when radiation therapy risks ablating large proportions of active marrow; in such cases, individual FLT-PET scans may be required.
PURPOSE: Proliferating bone marrow is exquisitely sensitive to ionizing radiation. Knowledge of its distribution could improve radiation therapy planning to minimize unnecessary marrow exposure and avoid consequential prolonged myelosuppression. [18F]-Fluoro-3-deoxy-3-L-fluorothymidine (FLT)-positron emission tomography (PET) is a novel imaging modality that provides detailed quantitative images of proliferating tissues, including bone marrow. We used FLT-PET imaging in cancerpatients to produce an atlas of marrow distribution with potential clinical utility. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The FLT-PET and fused CT scans of eligible patients with non-small cell lung cancer (no distant metastases, no prior cytotoxic exposure, no hematologic disorders) were reviewed. The proportions of skeletal FLT activity in 10 predefined bony regions were determined and compared according to age, sex, and recent smoking status. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were studied: 67% male; median age 68 (range, 31-87) years; 8% never smokers; 70% no smoking in the preceding 3 months. Significant differences in marrow distribution occurred between sex and age groups. No effect was detected from smoking in the preceding 3 months. Using the mean percentages of FLT uptake per body region, we created an atlas of the distribution of functional bone marrow in 4 subgroups defined by sex and age. CONCLUSIONS: This atlas has potential utility for estimating the distribution of active marrow in adult cancerpatients to guide radiation therapy planning. However, because of interindividual variation it should be used with caution when radiation therapy risks ablating large proportions of active marrow; in such cases, individual FLT-PET scans may be required.
Authors: Samantha Warren; Christopher N Hurt; Thomas Crosby; Mike Partridge; Maria A Hawkins Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Date: 2017-07-29 Impact factor: 7.038