Powerful prognostic stratification by [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with high-dose chemotherapy

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines the use of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for the evaluation of the therapeutic response for patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with autologous stem cell transplantation for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) focusing on prognostic stratification. Patients and Methods: Forty-seven patients with MBC were treated with a maximum of three cycles of HDC. Therapeutic response was assessed with conventional imaging (Clmg; including a computed tomography in all cases and ultrasound, mammography, and bone scanning as clinically indicated) and by FDG-PET study performed after the last cycle of HDC. Parameters analyzed for predict..