18F-choline PET/MRI on initial staging of prostate cancer. Impact on therapy approach. / La PET/RM con 18F-colina en el diagnóstico inicial del cáncer de próstata. Impacto en la estrategia terapéutica.

AIM: Evaluate the therapy impact of initial staging in patients diagnosed with prostate cancer by 18 F-choline PET/MRI hybrid technique. MATERIAL: A prospective study which included 31 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer; Gleason > 7; mean PSA 13.6 ng/mL (range 6.3-20.6). PET/MRI studies were acquired simultaneously with hybrid equipment (SIGNA.3T, GE) following intravenous injection of 185 ± 18.5MBq of 18F-choline: - Early/prostate imaging: PET emission + multiparametric MR: DIXON-T1-T2-diffusion-gadolinium. - Late/whole-body imaging: PET emission + MR: DIXON-T1-T2-diffusion-STIR sequences. Images were visually evaluated. SUV & ADC & textures were also calculated. Treatment selection was based upon Oncology Committee consensus decision. RESULTS: Procedure was well tolerated in all patients, and no artifacts were reported. MRI was superior in T staging in eight patients (25.8%) (Likert: 2-3), whereas PET increased MRI sensitivity in three patients (9.7%) (PIRADS: 3). PROSTATE LESION LOCATION: Peripheral 91.4%, transitional 8.6%. SUVmax threshold: 2.95: sensitivity 92.9%, specificity 66.7%. No correlation SUV vs. ADC. Better distinction between stage T2 vs. T3 using the DiscrLin model with NG = 16 (AUC 0.7767 ± 0.3386). PET was superior to T2 in textures analysis (0.588 vs. 0.412). Seventeen patients (54.8%) were staged ≥ T3, with surgical treatment being contraindicated. Fifteen patients (48.4%) presented with extra-prostatic disease: 8/31 oligometastatic and 7/31 multiple metastasis. Therapy approach following PET/MRI was: radical treatment in 24/31 patients (77.4%), 14 radical prostatectomy and 10 MRI-guided radiotherapy; systemic treatment in 7/31 patients (22.6%). CONCLUSION: 18F-choline PET/MRI had a complementary role for the T staging, with a high detection rate for NM infiltration. PET/MRI findings allowed patients to be directed either to prostatectomy or MRI-guided radiotherapy, and thus avoiding radicaltreatment in 22.6% of patients.

Radioterapia de rescate en pacientes con cáncer de próstata. Planificación, respuesta al tratamiento y pronóstico mediante PET/TC con 11C-colina / Salvage radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients. Planning, treatment response and prognosis using 11C-choline PET/CT

Objetivo. Evaluar el valor pronóstico de la respuesta terapéutica mediante 11C-colina PET/TC en pacientes con recidiva bioquímica de cáncer de próstata en los que la exploración ha indicado el tratamiento con radioterapia radioguiada. Método. Treinta y siete pacientes inicialmente tratados con prostatectomía, acudieron por recidiva bioquímica. La 11C-colina PET/TC permitió la detección de infiltración adenopática infradiafragmática. Todos ellos fueron seleccionados para radioterapia de intensidad modulada, escalando la dosis según los hallazgos de la PET/TC. Al año se les realizó PSA y 11C-colina PET/TC categorizando la respuesta (completa/parcial/progresión). Se efectuó seguimiento clínico/analítico/imagen hasta aparición de segunda recidiva o 36 meses en pacientes libres de enfermedad. Resultados. La 11C-colina PET/TC permitió la detección adenopática en los 37 pacientes. En 18 (48,6%) fue supracentimétrica y en 19 (51,3%) no había criterios patológicos por TC: 9 (24,3%) ganglios positivos supra + infracentimétricos y 10 (27,0%) únicamente infracentimétricos. Categorizamos la respuesta mediante 11C-colina PET/TC un año tras la radioterapia: 16 pacientes (43,2%) respuesta completa; 15 (40,5%) respuesta parcial; 6 (16,2%) progresión. La respuesta fue concordante entre PSA y 11C-colina PET/TC en 32 pacientes (86,5%) y discordante en 5 (13,5%). Se detectó nueva recidiva en 12 pacientes (80%) con respuesta parcial y en 5 (31,2%) con respuesta completa. La media de tiempo libre de enfermedad ha sido 9 meses tras respuesta parcial y 18 meses tras respuesta completa (diferencia significativa, p < 0,0001). Conclusión. La 11C-colina PET/TC permite la selección de los pacientes con recidiva de cáncer de próstata candidatos a radioterapia, planificando la misma. La evaluación de la respuesta terapéutica mediante 11C-colina PET/TC presenta significación pronóstica (AU)

Objective. To assess the prognostic value of the therapeutic response by 11C-choline PET/CT in prostate cancer patients with biochemical recurrence in which 11C-choline PET/CT indicated radio-guided radiotherapy. Methods. The study included 37 patients initially treated with prostatectomy, who were treated due to biochemical recurrence. 11C-choline PE/CT detected infra-diaphragmatic lymph-node involvement. All were selected for intensity modulated radiation therapy, escalating the dose according to the PET findings. One year after treatment patients underwent PSA and 11C-choline PET/CT categorizing response (complete/partial/progression). Clinical/biochemical/image monitoring was performed until appearance of second relapse or 36 months in disease-free patients. Results. 11C-choline PET/CT could detect lymph nodes in all 37 patients. They were 18 (48.6%) of more than a centimetre in size and 19 (51.3%) with no pathological CT morphology: 9 (24.3%) with positive lymph nodes of around one centimetre and 10 (27.0%) only less than a centimetre in size. The response by 11C-choline PET/CT was categorised one year after radiotherapy: 16 patients (43.2%) complete response; 15 (40.5%) partial response, and 6 (16.2%) progression. The response was concordant between the PSA result and 11C-choline PET/CT in 32 patients (86.5%), and discordant in five (13.5%). New recurrence was detected in 12 patients (80%) with partial response, and 5 (31.2%) with complete response. The mean time to recurrence was 9 months after partial response, and 18 months after complete response (significant difference, p<.0001). Conclusion. 11C-choline PET/CT allows the selection of patients with recurrent prostate cancer candidates for radiotherapy and to plan the technique. The evaluation of therapeutic response by 11C-choline PET/CT has prognostic significance (AU)

Peritoneal Cancer Index by (18)F-FDG PET/TC pre and post-hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Report of a case. / Peritoneal Cancer Index mediante (18)F-FDG PET/TC pre y poscirugía citorreductiva radical y quimioterapia intraperitoneal con hipertermia. A propósito de un caso.

Radical cytoreductive surgery followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy increases survival in patients with end-stage peritoneal carcinomatosis, and who are under palliative therapy. The Peritoneal Cancer Index enables the tumor burden to be quantified during surgery, as well as treatment planning and patient prognosis. It is obtained by combining the tumor spread in 13 abdominal and pelvic regions with the largest tumor size. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography is the technique of choice for those patients selected to undergo radical cytoreductive surgery followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, due to its higher detection rate of carcinomatosis, and since it allows extra-peritoneal disease staging. The simplified Peritoneal Cancer Index (9 regions defined by 2 transverse and 2 sagittal planes) obtained by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography allows correlation with the surgical procedure, therefore its standardization is advisable.

11C-colina PET/TAC y RM multiparamétrica en la recidiva bioquímica del cáncer de próstata / 11C-choline PET/CT and multiparametric MRI in patients with biochemical relapse of prostate cancer

Problema clínico con casuística: Comparar la utilidad diagnóstica de la PET/TC con 11C-colina y la RM multiparamétrica en la detección de la recidiva del cáncer de próstata a nivel pélvico. Hemos estudiado retrospectivamente 21 pacientes con antecedente de cáncer de próstata, tratados inicialmente con cirugía (n = 12) o radioterapia (n = 9), que presentaban elevación del PSA (poscirugía 0,3-3,6 ng/ml; posradioterapia 2,4-8,8 ng/ml). A todos ellos, en un periodo de tiempo inferior a 15 días, se les realizó: estudio PET/TC «doble fase» de cuerpo completo, inmediatamente tras la administración de11C-colina (296 ± 29 MBq) y RM prostática multiparamétrica, empleando secuencias anatómicas, estudio de difusión y estudio dinámico tras la administración de contraste intravenoso paramagnético. A partir de nuestros resultados, a todos ellos se les realizó estudio diagnóstico dirigido y/o seguimiento clínico, analítico y de imagen. En 15 pacientes (71,4%) ambas exploraciones fueron concordantes, 4 negativas y 11 positivas: 7 recidivas locales, 3 adenopatías pélvicas únicas (2 infracentimétricas), una recidiva local y una M1 ósea única. En 6 pacientes (28,6%) ambas exploraciones fueron discordantes: 3 recidivas locales identificadas en la RM y sin significación en la PET, una recidiva local identificada en la PET sin significación en la RM y 2 M1 óseas identificadas en la PET fuera del campo de RM. Comentario: La PET/TC con 11C-colina y la RM multiparamétrica tienen un papel complementario para la detección de recidiva local del cáncer de próstata, con sensibilidad similar para la detección de inflitración ganglionar. La PET/TC con 11C-colina, como técnica de cuerpo completo, permite la estadificación ósea

Clinic problem and case series: To assess the diagnostic usefulness of 11C-choline PET/CT vs. multi-parametric MRI in the prostate cancer relapse. A retrospective study of 21 patients with prostate cancer treated initially with surgery (n = 12), radiotherapy (n = 9). PSA levels were increased (post-surgery: .3-3.6 ng/ml; post-radiotherapy: 2.4-8.8 ng/ml). In an interval of time of 15 days all patients were underwent to: whole-body-dual-modality PET-CT carried out early after 11C-choline (296 ± 29 MBq) injection, and multiparametric prostate MRI with paramagnetic intravenous contrast (using anatomical imaging sequences, diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging). On the basis of our results, all patients were underwent to directed diagnosis and/or clinical, analytic and imaging follow-up. In 15 patients (71.4%) both procedures showed concordant results: 4 negative and 11 positive cases [7 local recurrences, 3 isolated pelvic lymph nodes (2 infracentimetric), 1 local relapse and only one M1 bone metastases]. The results were discordant in 6 patients (28.6%): 3 local relapses in MRI with no PET significance, 1 local relapse in PET with no MRI significance. 2 bone metastases were identified with PET (out of the field-of-view of MRI). Coment 11C-choline PET/CT and multi-parametric MRI play a complementary role in the detection of local relapse in prostate cancer patients, with similar sensitivity for the detection of lymph involvement. Whole-body 11C-choline PET/CT technique is also useful for bone staging

(11)C-choline PET/CT and multiparametric MRI in patients with biochemical relapse of prostate cancer.

CLINIC PROBLEM AND CASE SERIES: To assess the diagnostic usefulness of (11)C-choline PET/CT vs. multi-parametric MRI in the prostate cancer relapse. A retrospective study of 21 patients with prostate cancer treated initially with surgery (n=12), radiotherapy (n=9). PSA levels were increased (post-surgery: .3-3.6 ng/ml; post-radiotherapy: 2.4-8.8 ng/ml). In an interval of time of 15 days all patients were underwent to: whole-body-dual-modality PET-CT carried out early after (11)C-choline (296 ± 29 MBq) injection, and multiparametric prostate MRI with paramagnetic intravenous contrast (using anatomical imaging sequences, diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging). On the basis of our results, all patients were underwent to directed diagnosis and/or clinical, analytic and imaging follow-up. In 15 patients (71.4%) both procedures showed concordant results: 4 negative and 11 positive cases [7 local recurrences, 3 isolated pelvic lymph nodes (2 infracentimetric), 1 local relapse and only one M1 bone metastases]. The results were discordant in 6 patients (28.6%): 3 local relapses in MRI with no PET significance, 1 local relapse in PET with no MRI significance. 2 bone metastases were identified with PET (out of the field-of-view of MRI). COMMENT: (11)C-choline PET/CT and multi-parametric MRI play a complementary role in the detection of local relapse in prostate cancer patients, with similar sensitivity for the detection of lymph involvement. Whole-body 11C-choline PET/CT technique is also useful for bone staging.

[Oral nutritional supplements. Are they useful?]. / Suplementos nutricionales orales. Son útiles?

Oral nutritional supplements are products included in enteral nutrition, preferably used in hospital settings, although their use in the community is gradually increasing and in the United Kingdom has doubled in the last seven years, with prescriptions covering a wide range of the population from children to the elderly, and different pathologies affecting their nutritional status. There is, however, no consensus on the usefulness of oral nutritional supplements among these patients, so we do not have any recommendations for use. In this paper we have reviewed the various studies available in the literature in order to clarify the usefulness of these supplements in different contexts or pathologies.

Lipid-protein interaction. The incorporation of myelin proteolipid apoprotein into phosphatidylcholine bilayers.

Bovine myelin proteolipid apoprotein (PLA), obtained in high yield and purity by a novel ultrafiltration procedure, has been used to study the perturbations produced by this protein on phosphatidylcholine bilayers, using infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and fluorescence polarisation. PLA interacts with phospholipids in a similar manner to other intrinsic proteins. For bilayers in the fluid state, the fatty-acyl chain static order, as measured by deuterium NMR, is slightly increased in the presence of the protein, except at very high PLA concentrations. Phosphorus NMR reveals some perturbation of the phospholipid polar group by PLA, but to a smaller degree than occurs with other intrinsic proteins. An increase in static order above tc (the onset temperature for gel-to-fluid transition) is also detected by infrared spectroscopy. Studies using steady-state polarisation of diphenylhexatriene fluorescence indicate that the microviscosity of the bilayer increases as a function of the protein mole fraction. From these data an estimation of the average number of lipids perturbed per protein monomer has been made, and a figure of 37 phospholipid molecules determined. The data are compatible with a picture of a hydrophobic polypeptide, perturbing the phospholipids close to it, but allowing rapid (greater than 10(4) s-1) exchange with all the lipid molecules in the system.