Correlation between Histopathological Prognostic Tumor Characteristics and [18F]FDG Uptake in Corresponding Metastases in Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: In metastatic breast cancer (MBC), [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F]FDG-PET/CT) can be used for staging. We evaluated the correlation between BC histopathological characteristics and [18F]FDG uptake in corresponding metastases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with non-rapidly progressive MBC of all subtypes prospectively underwent a baseline histological metastasis biopsy and [18F]FDG-PET. Biopsies were assessed for estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (ER, PR, HER2); Ki-67; and histological subtype. [18F]FDG uptake was expressed as maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and results were expressed as geometric means. RESULTS: Of 200 patients, 188 had evaluable metastasis biopsies, and 182 of these contained tumor. HER2 positivity and Ki-67 ≥ 20% were correlated with higher [18F]FDG uptake (estimated geometric mean SUVmax 10.0 and 8.8, respectively; p = 0.0064 and p = 0.014). [18F]FDG uptake was lowest in ER-positive/HER2-negative BC and highest in HER2-positive BC (geometric mean SUVmax 6.8 and 10.0, respectively; p = 0.0058). Although [18F]FDG uptake was lower in invasive lobular carcinoma (n = 31) than invasive carcinoma NST (n = 146) (estimated geometric mean SUVmax 5.8 versus 7.8; p = 0.014), the metastasis detection rate was similar. CONCLUSIONS: [18F]FDG-PET is a powerful tool to detect metastases, including invasive lobular carcinoma. Although BC histopathological characteristics are related to [18F]FDG uptake, [18F]FDG-PET and biopsy remain complementary in MBC staging (NCT01957332).

The additional diagnostic value of virtual bronchoscopy navigation in patients with pulmonary nodules - The NAVIGATOR study.

BACKGROUND: The number of solitary pulmonary nodules to be evaluated is expected to increase and therefore we need to improve diagnostic and therapeutic tools to approach these nodules. To prevent patients from futile invasive procedures and receiving treatment without histological confirmation of cancer, we evaluated the value of virtual bronchoscopy navigation to obtain a diagnosis of the solitary pulmonary nodule in a real-world clinical setting. METHODS: In the NAVIGATOR single center, prospective, observational cohort study patients underwent a virtual bronchoscopy navigation procedure with or without guide sheet tunnelling to assess a solitary pulmonary nodule. Nodules were considered not accessible if a diagnosis could not be obtained by either by CT-guided transthoracic biopsy or conventional bronchoscopy. RESULTS: Between February 2021 and January 2022 35 patients underwent the virtual bronchoscopy navigation procedure. The overall diagnostic yield was 77% and was dependent on size of the nodule and chosen path, with highest yield in lesions with an airway path. Adverse events were few and manageable. CONCLUSION: Virtual bronchoscopy navigation with or without sheet tunnelling is a new technique with a good diagnostic yield, also in patients in whom previously performed procedures failed to establish a diagnosis and/or alternative procedures are considered not feasible based on expected yield and/or safety. Preventing futile or more invasive procedures like surgery or transthoracic punctures with a higher complication rate is beneficial for patients, and allowed treatment adaptation in two-third of the analyzed patient population.

Assessment of Bone Lesions with 18F-FDG PET Compared with 99mTc Bone Scintigraphy Leads to Clinically Relevant Differences in Metastatic Breast Cancer Management.

It is unknown whether assessment of potential bone lesions in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) by 18F-FDG PET instead of 99mTc bone scintigraphy (BS) supports clinically relevant changes in MBC management. Therefore, we retrospectively compared management recommendations based on bone lesion assessment by 18F-FDG PET plus contrast-enhanced CT (ceCT) or BS plus ceCT, for patients with newly diagnosed MBC. Methods: Baseline ceCT, BS, and 18F-FDG PET for all patients included in the IMPACT-MBC study (NCT01957332) at the University Medical Center Groningen were reviewed for bone lesions. If bone lesions were found by any imaging modality, virtual MBC management recommendations were made by a multidisciplinary expert panel, based on either 18F-FDG PET plus ceCT or BS plus ceCT. The panel had access to standard clinicopathologic information and baseline imaging findings outside the skeleton. Clinically relevant management differences between the 2 recommendations were defined either as different treatment intent (curative, noncurative, or unable to determine) or as different systemic or local treatment. If no bone lesions were found by any imaging modality, the patients were included in the analyses without expert review. Results: In total, 3,473 unequivocal bone lesions were identified in 102 evaluated patients (39% by ceCT, 26% by BS, and 87% by 18F-FDG PET). Additional bone lesions on 18F-FDG PET plus ceCT compared with BS plus ceCT led to change in MBC management recommendations in 16% of patients (95% CI, 10%-24%). BS also changed management compared with 18F-FDG PET in 1 patient (1%; 95% CI, 0%-5%). In 26% (95% CI, 19%-36%) of patients, an additional 18F-FDG PET exam was requested, because BS provided insufficient information. Conclusion: In this exploratory analysis of newly diagnosed MBC patients, 18F-FDG PET versus BS to assess bone lesions resulted in clinically relevant management differences in 16% of patients. BS delivered insufficient information in over one fourth of patients, resulting in an additional request for 18F-FDG PET. On the basis of these data, 18F-FDG PET should be considered a primary imaging modality for assessment of bone lesions in newly diagnosed MBC.

Decalcification of Breast Cancer Bone Metastases With EDTA Does Not Affect ER, PR, and HER2 Results.

In metastatic breast cancer (MBC), expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) guides treatment selection. In case of bone-only metastatic disease, ER, PR, and HER2 status assessment may be hampered by decalcification. We aimed to determine the optimal decalcification method, and to study discordance of receptor expression between paired primary breast tumors and optimally decalcified bone metastases. First, decalcification was simulated using acetic acid, hydrochloric/formic acid, and EDTA on 12 primary breast carcinomas. ER, PR, and HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) and HER2 in situ hybridization (ISH) were assessed, before and after the 3 decalcification methods. EDTA was considered the optimal method, as it did not affect IHC and as ISH failed in only 1/16 cases. Hydrochloric/formic acid altered ER and PR results, and, with acetic acid and hydrochloric/formic acid, ISH failed in, respectively, 94% and 100%. Second, ER, PR, and HER2 IHC was performed in paired primary tumors and EDTA-decalcified bone metastases obtained from patients with first presentation of MBC. Clinically relevant discordance was defined as changed receptor status with treatment implications. Paired samples of 77 patients, participating in the IMPACT-MBC trial, were evaluable. Hormonal receptor expression change was clinically relevant in 6 patients (7.9%) and HER2 expression change in 1 patient (1.3%). This study shows that EDTA decalcification minimally affects receptor expression results. The incidence of clinically relevant discordance between the primary tumor and bone metastases is low. These findings support that bone biopsies can reliably be used to assess receptor status.

Interobserver reproducibility of tumor uptake quantification with 89Zr-immuno-PET: a multicenter analysis.

PURPOSE: In-vivo quantification of tumor uptake of 89-zirconium (89Zr)-labelled monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with PET provides a potential tool in strategies to optimize tumor targeting and therapeutic efficacy. A specific challenge for 89Zr-immuno-PET is low tumor contrast. This is expected to result in interobserver variation in tumor delineation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine interobserver reproducibility of tumor uptake measures by tumor delineation on 89Zr-immuno-PET scans. METHODS: Data were obtained from previously published clinical studies performed with 89Zr-rituximab, 89Zr-cetuximab and 89Zr-trastuzumab. Tumor lesions on 89Zr-immuno-PET were identified as focal uptake exceeding local background by a nuclear medicine physician. Three observers independently manually delineated volumes of interest (VOI). Maximum, peak and mean standardized uptake values (SUVmax, SUVpeak and SUVmean) were used to quantify tumor uptake. Interobserver variability was expressed as the coefficient of variation (CoV). The performance of semi-automatic VOI delineation using 50% of background-corrected ACpeak was described. RESULTS: In total, 103 VOI were delineated (3-6 days post injection (D3-D6)). Tumor uptake (median, interquartile range) was 9.2 (5.2-12.6), 6.9 (4.0-9.6) and 5.5 (3.3-7.8) for SUVmax, SUVpeak and SUVmean. Interobserver variability was 0% (0-12), 0% (0-2) and 7% (5-14), respectively (n = 103). The success rate of the semi-automatic method was 45%. Inclusion of background was the main reason for failure of semi-automatic VOI. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that interobserver reproducibility of tumor uptake quantification on 89Zr-immuno-PET was excellent for SUVmax and SUVpeak using a standardized manual procedure for tumor segmentation. Semi-automatic delineation was not robust due to limited tumor contrast.

89Zr-atezolizumab imaging as a non-invasive approach to assess clinical response to PD-L1 blockade in cancer.

Programmed cell death protein-1/ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) blockade is effective in a subset of patients with several tumor types, but predicting patient benefit using approved diagnostics is inexact, as some patients with PD-L1-negative tumors also show clinical benefit1,2. Moreover, all biopsy-based tests are subject to the errors and limitations of invasive tissue collection3-11. Preclinical studies of positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging with antibodies to PD-L1 suggested that this imaging method might be an approach to selecting patients12,13. Such a technique, however, requires substantial clinical development and validation. Here we present the initial results from a first-in-human study to assess the feasibility of imaging with zirconium-89-labeled atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1), including biodistribution, and secondly test its potential to predict response to PD-L1 blockade (ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers NCT02453984 and NCT02478099). We imaged 22 patients across three tumor types before the start of atezolizumab therapy. The PET signal, a function of tracer exposure and target expression, was high in lymphoid tissues and at sites of inflammation. In tumors, uptake was generally high but heterogeneous, varying within and among lesions, patients, and tumor types. Intriguingly, clinical responses in our patients were better correlated with pretreatment PET signal than with immunohistochemistry- or RNA-sequencing-based predictive biomarkers, encouraging further development of molecular PET imaging for assessment of PD-L1 status and clinical response prediction.

Molecular imaging to enlighten cancer immunotherapies and underlying involved processes.

Cancer immunotherapy has led to impressive antitumor effects. However, not all patients respond to immunotherapy, serious toxicity can occur and combination therapy may be warranted. Strategies for rational early treatment choices are urgently required. In the absence of ideal accompanying biomarkers it remains challenging to capture the dynamic, heterogeneous and complex tumor behavior. Tumor immune response involves next to tumor cells, numerous other cells and molecules in the tumor microenvironment. We review research to identify potential novel imaging biomarkers by non-invasive whole body molecular imaging with positron emission tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography for cancer immunotherapy. Firstly, imaging with radiolabeled immune checkpoint targeting molecules. Secondly, imaging of immune cells with ex vivo or in vivo radiolabeled tracers and thirdly, imaging extracellular matrix components, including adhesion molecules, growth factors and cytokines. These molecular imaging strategies - used alone, in combination or serially - could potentially contribute to patient selection upfront or early during immunotherapy.

Comparative biodistribution analysis across four different 89Zr-monoclonal antibody tracers-The first step towards an imaging warehouse.

Rationale: Knowledge on monoclonal antibody biodistribution in healthy tissues in humans can support clinical drug development. Molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) can yield information in this setting. However, recent imaging studies have analyzed the behavior of single antibodies only, neglecting comparison across different antibodies. Methods: We compared the distribution of four 89Zr-labeled antibodies in healthy tissue in a retrospective analysis based on the recently published harmonization protocol for 89Zr-tracers and our delineation protocol. Results: The biodistribution patterns of 89Zr-lumretuzumab, 89Zr-MMOT0530A, 89Zr-bevacizumab and 89Zr-trastuzumab on day 4 after tracer injection were largely similar. The highest tracer concentration was seen in healthy liver, spleen, kidney and intestines. About one-third of the injected tracer dose was found in the circulation, up to 15% in the liver and only 4% in the spleen and kidney. Lower tracer concentration was seen in bone marrow, lung, compact bone, muscle, fat and the brain. Despite low tracer accumulation per gram of tissue, large-volume tissues, especially fat, can influence overall distribution: On average, 5-7% of the injected tracer dose accumulated in fat, with a peak of 19% in a patient with morbid obesity. Conclusion: The similar biodistribution of the four antibodies is probably based on their similar molecular structure, binding characteristics and similar metabolic pathways. These data provide a basis for a prospectively growing, online accessible warehouse of molecular imaging data, which enables researchers to increase and exchange knowledge on whole body drug distribution and potentially supports drug development decisions.

89Zr-trastuzumab PET supports clinical decision making in breast cancer patients, when HER2 status cannot be determined by standard work up.

BACKGROUND: Up-to-date information on human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status in breast cancer (BC) is important, as expression can vary during the course of the disease, necessitating anti-HER2 therapy adjustments. Repeat biopsies, however, are not always possible. In this feasibility trial we assessed whether 89Zr-trastuzumab PET could support diagnostic understanding and aid clinical decision making, when HER2 status could not be determined by standard work up. Additionally, HER2 status on circulating tumour cells (CTCs) was assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 89Zr-trastuzumab PET was performed in patients if disease HER2 status remained unclear after standard work up (bone scan, 18F-FDG PET, CT and if feasible a biopsy). PET result and central pathologic revision of available tumour biopsies were reported to the referring physician. CTC HER2 status prior to PET was evaluated afterwards and therefore not reported. Diagnostic understanding and treatment decision questionnaires were completed by the referring physicians before, directly after and ≥ 3 months after 89Zr-trastuzumab PET. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled: 8 with two primary cancers (HER2-positive and HER2-negative BC or BC and non-BC), 7 with metastases inaccessible for biopsy, 4 with prior HER2-positive and -negative metastases and 1 with primary BC with equivocal HER2 status. 89Zr-trastuzumab PET was positive in 12 patients, negative in 7 and equivocal in 1 patient. In 15/20 patients, 89Zr-trastuzumab PET supported treatment decision. The scan altered treatment of 8 patients, increased physicians' confidence without affecting treatment in 10, and improved physicians' disease understanding in 18 patients. In 10/20 patients CTCs were detected; 6/10 showed HER2 expression. CTC HER2 status was not correlated to 89Zr-trastuzumab PET result or treatment decision. CONCLUSION: 89Zr-trastuzumab PET supports clinical decision making when HER2 status cannot be determined by standard work up. The impact of CTC HER2 status needs to be further explored.

89Zr-Lumretuzumab PET Imaging before and during HER3 Antibody Lumretuzumab Treatment in Patients with Solid Tumors.

Purpose: We evaluated biodistribution and tumor targeting of 89Zr-lumretuzumab before and during treatment with lumretuzumab, a human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3)-targeting monoclonal antibody.Experimental Design: Twenty patients with histologically confirmed HER3-expressing tumors received 89Zr-lumretuzumab and underwent positron emission tomography (PET). In part A, 89Zr-lumretuzumab was given with additional, escalating doses of unlabeled lumretuzumab, and scans were performed 2, 4, and 7 days after injection to determine optimal imaging conditions. In part B, patients were scanned following tracer injection before (baseline) and after a pharmacodynamic (PD)-active lumretuzumab dose for saturation analysis. HER3 expression was determined immunohistochemically in skin biopsies. Tracer uptake was calculated as standardized uptake value (SUV).Results: Optimal PET conditions were found to be 4 and 7 days after administration of 89Zr-lumretuzumab with 100-mg unlabeled lumretuzumab. At baseline using 100-mg unlabeled lumretuzumab, the tumor SUVmax was 3.4 (±1.9) at 4 days after injection. SUVmean values for normal blood, liver, lung, and brain tissues were 4.9, 6.4, 0.9 and 0.2, respectively. Saturation analysis (n = 7) showed that 4 days after lumretuzumab administration, tumor uptake decreased by 11.9% (±8.2), 10.0% (±16.5), and 24.6% (±20.9) at PD-active doses of 400, 800, and 1,600 mg, respectively, when compared with baseline. Membranous HER3 was completely downregulated in paired skin biopsies already at and above 400-mg lumretuzumab.Conclusions: PET imaging showed biodistribution and tumor-specific 89Zr-lumretuzumab uptake. Although, PD-active lumretuzumab doses decreased 89Zr-lumretuzumab uptake, there was no clear evidence of tumor saturation by PET imaging as the tumor SUV did not plateau with increasing doses. Clin Cancer Res; 23(20); 6128-37. ©2017 AACR.

ImmunoPET with Anti-Mesothelin Antibody in Patients with Pancreatic and Ovarian Cancer before Anti-Mesothelin Antibody-Drug Conjugate Treatment.

PURPOSE: Mesothelin (MSLN) is frequently overexpressed in pancreatic and ovarian cancers, making it a potential drug target. We performed an (89)Zr-PET imaging study with MMOT0530A, a MSLN antibody, in conjunction with a phase I study with the antibody-drug conjugate DMOT4039A, containing MMOT0530A bound to MMAE. The aim was to study antibody tumor uptake, whole-body distribution, and relation between uptake, response to treatment, and MSLN expression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Before DMOT4039A treatment, patients received 37 MBq (89)Zr-MMOT0530A followed by PET/CT imaging 2, 4, and 7 days postinjection. Tracer uptake was expressed as standardized uptake value (SUV). MSLN expression was determined with immunohistochemistry (IHC) on archival tumor tissue. RESULTS: Eleven patients were included, 7 with pancreatic and 4 with ovarian cancer. IHC MSLN expression varied from absent to strong. Suitable tracer antibody dose was 10 mg MMOT0530A and optimal imaging time was 4 and 7 days postinjection. Tumor tracer uptake occurred in 37 lesions with mean SUVmax of 13.1 (±7.5) on PET 4 days postinjection, with 11.5 (±7.5) in (N= 17) pancreatic and 14.5 (±8.7) in (N= 20) ovarian cancer lesions. Within patients, a mean 2.4-fold (±1.10) difference in uptake between tumor lesions existed. Uptake in blood, liver, kidneys, spleen, and intestine reflected normal antibody distribution. Tracer tumor uptake was correlated to IHC. Best response to DMOT4039A was partial response in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: With (89)Zr-MMOT0530A-PET, pancreatic and ovarian cancer lesions as well as antibody biodistribution could be visualized. This technique can potentially guide individualized antibody-based treatment.

TGF-ß Antibody Uptake in Recurrent High-Grade Glioma Imaged with 89Zr-Fresolimumab PET.

UNLABELLED: Transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) signaling is involved in glioma development. The monoclonal antibody fresolimumab (GC1008) can neutralize all mammalian isoforms of TGF-ß, and tumor uptake can be visualized and quantified with (89)Zr-fresolimumab PET in mice. The aim of this study was to investigate the fresolimumab uptake in recurrent high-grade gliomas using (89)Zr-fresolimumab PET and to assess treatment outcome in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma treated with fresolimumab. METHODS: Patients with recurrent glioma were eligible. After intravenous administration of 37 MBq (5 mg) of (89)Zr-fresolimumab, PET scans were acquired on day 2 or day 4 after tracer injection. Thereafter, patients were treated with 5 mg of fresolimumab per kilogram intravenously every 3 wk. (89)Zr-fresolimumab tumor uptake was quantified as maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax). MR imaging for response evaluation was performed after 3 infusions or as clinically indicated. RESULTS: Twelve patients with recurrent high-grade glioma were included: 10 glioblastomas, 1 anaplastic oligodendroglioma, and 1 anaplastic astrocytoma. All patients underwent (89)Zr-fresolimumab PET 4 d after injection. In 4 patients, an additional PET scan was obtained on day 2 after injection. SUVmax on day 4 in tumor lesions was 4.6 (range, 1.5-13.9) versus a median SUVmean of 0.3 (range, 0.2-0.5) in normal brain tissue. All patients showed clinical or radiologic progression after 1-3 infusions of fresolimumab. Median progression-free survival was 61 d (range, 25-80 d), and median overall survival was 106 d (range, 37-417 d). CONCLUSION: (89)Zr-fresolimumab penetrated recurrent high-grade gliomas very well but did not result in clinical benefit.

HER3, serious partner in crime: therapeutic approaches and potential biomarkers for effect of HER3-targeting.

The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family members are targeted by a growing numbers of small molecules and monoclonal antibodies. Resistance against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER2-targeting agents is a clinically relevant problem forcing research on optimizing targeting of the HER family. In view of its overexpression in tumors, and compensatory role in HER signaling, HER3 has gained much interest as a potential additional target within the HER family. It is the only member of the HER family lacking intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and therefore its role in cancer has long been underestimated. Drugs that block HER3 or interfere with HER3 dimer signaling, including fully human anti-HER3 antibodies, bispecific antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), are currently becoming available. Several compounds have already entered clinical trial. In the meantime potential biomarkers are tested such as tumor analysis of HER3 expression, functional assays for downstream effector molecules and molecular imaging techniques. This review describes the biology and relevance of HER3 in cancer, agents targeting HER3 and potential biomarkers for effect of HER3-targeting.

Molecular imaging for monitoring treatment response in breast cancer patients.

Currently, tumour response following drug treatment is based on measurement of anatomical size changes. This is often done according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) and is generally performed every 2-3 cycles. Bone metastases, being the most common site of distant metastases in breast cancer, are not measurable by RECIST. The standard response measurement provides no insight in changes of molecular characteristics. In the era of targeted medicine, knowledge of specific molecular tumour characteristics becomes more important. A potential way to assess this is by means of molecular imaging. Molecular imaging can visualise general tumour processes, such as glucose metabolism with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) and DNA synthesis with (18)F-fluorodeoxythymidine ((18)F-FLT). In addition, an increasing number of more specific targets, such as hormone receptors, growth factor receptors, and growth factors can be visualised. In the future molecular imaging may thus be of value for personalised treatment-selection by providing insight in the expression of these drug targets. Additionally, when molecular changes can be detected early during therapy, this may serve as early predictor of response. However, in order to define clinical utility of this approach results from (ongoing) clinical trials is required. In this review we summarise the potential role of molecular imaging of general tumour processes as well as hormone receptors, growth factor receptors, and tumour micro-environment for predicting and monitoring treatment response in breast cancer patients.