Exploring the correlation between HER2 alterations and 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters and their prognostic value in EGFR-negative non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Our study intended to explore the correlation between HER2 alterations and 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters and their prognostic value in EGFR-negative non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients detected by next-generation sequencing (NGS). METHODS: NGS assay was performed in 1737 NSCLC patients, a total of 88 HER2 alterations and 176 negative HER2 with EGFR-negative patients were randomly selected for this study. RESULTS: When the HER2 status with EGFR-negative group was analyzed, multivariate analysis showed that smoking status, primary tumor SUVmax (pSUVmax) < 13.03 and stage were the independent deterministic factors of HER2 alterations. Multivariate cox regression analysis revealed that HER2 status, age, smoking status and stage were independent risk factors for overall survival (OS) in EGFR-negative NSCLC patients with different HER2 status. When the HER2 alterations group was separately analyzed, multivariate analysis demonstrated that low pSUVmax < 15.32 and histology were the independent deterministic factors of HER2 mutation. Multivariate cox regression analysis revealed that pSUVmax, smoking status, nodal involvement and treatment methods were independent risk factors for OS in EGFR-negative NSCLC patients with HER2 alterations. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that low pSUVmax was associated with HER2 alterations in EGFR-negative NSCLC patients, moreover HER2 mutation and HER2 amplification exhibited distinct 18F-FDG metabolic and clinical characteristics. Furthermore, it explored the prognostic value of HER2 alterations and 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters of pSUVmax in EGFR-negative NSCLC patients.