Safety and efficacy of temsirolimus as second line treatment for patients with recurrent bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer is the 7th cause of death from cancer in men and 10th in women. Metastatic patients have a poor prognosis with a median overall survival of 14 months. Until recently, vinflunine was the only second-line chemotherapy available for patients who relapse. Deregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was observed in more than 40% of bladder tumors and suggested the use of mTOR as a target for the treatment of urothelial cancers. METHODS: This trial assessed the efficacy of temsirolimus in a homogenous cohort of patients with recurrent or metastatic bladder cancer following first-line chemotherapy. Efficacy was measured in terms of non-progression at two months according to the RECIST v1.1 criteria. Based on a two-stage optimal Simon's design, 15 non-progressions out of 51 evaluable patients were required to claim efficacy. Patients were treated at a weekly dose of 25 mg IV until progression, unacceptable toxicities or withdrawal. RESULTS: Among the 54 patients enrolled in the study between November 2009 and July 2014, 45 were assessable for the primary efficacy endpoint. A total of 22 (48.9%) non-progressions were observed at 2 months with 3 partial responses and 19 stable diseases. Remarkably, 4 patients were treated for more than 30 weeks. Fifty patients experienced at least a related grade1/2 (94%) and twenty-eight patients (52.8%) a related grade 3/4 adverse event. Eleven patients had to stop treatment for toxicity. This led to recruitment being halted by an independent data monitoring committee with regard to the risk-benefit balance and the fact that the primary objective was already met. CONCLUSIONS: While the positivity of this trial indicates a potential benefit of temsirolimus for a subset of bladder cancer patients who are refractory to first line platinum-based chemotherapy, the risk of adverse events associated with the use of this mTOR inhibitor would need to be considered when such an option is envisaged in this frail population of patients. It also remains to identify patients who will benefit the most from this targeted therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01827943 (trial registration date: October 29, 2012); Retrospectively registered.

Hodgkin lymphoma: a negative interim-PET cannot circumvent the need for end-of-treatment-PET evaluation.

We examined the outcome of a cohort of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in order to assess if fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) at the end of treatment (end-PET) can be omitted when the interim PET (int-PET) is negative. Seventy-six ABVD(adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine)-treated patients were retrospectively included. No change in treatment was made on the basis of int-PET results. Suspicious foci on end-PET received biopsy confirmation whenever possible. Median follow-up was 58·9 months. Uptake on int-PET higher than liver (scores 4-5) was rated positive according to the Lugano classification, while a positive end-PET corresponded to scores 3, 4 and 5. Fifteen patients had treatment failure. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value and accuracy of int-PET were 46·7%, 85·2%, 43·8%, 86·7% and 77·6%, respectively. For end-PET the figures were: 80%, 93·4%, 75%, 95% and 90·8%. Eight patients with negative int-PET had treatment failure; six of them were identified as non-responders with end-PET. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 87% for patients with negative int-PET versus 56% with positive int-PET. The 5-year PFS was 96% with negative end-PET versus 23% with positive end-PET. The prognostic information from int-PET as regards PFS (log-rank test P = 0·0048) was lower than that provided by end-PET (P < 0·0001). Int-PET predicted only half of the failures. When used in clinical routine, a negative int-PET study cannot obviate the need for end-PET examination.

Diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT for assessing response to radiofrequency ablation treatment in lung metastases: a multicentre prospective study.

PURPOSE: To assess diagnostic accuracy of (18)F-FDG PET/CT at 3 months for the detection of local recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of lung metastases. METHODS: The PET/CT scan at 3 months was compared with a baseline PET/CT scan from a maximum of 2 months before RFA, with the reference standard as recurrence diagnosed by CT during a 12-month follow-up. Local recurrence was diagnosed on the PET/CT scan if lesional uptake was greater than the mediastinal background. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) were recorded. ROC curve analysis for SUVmax was performed. Overall survival (OS) and time to local relapse were computed from the date of RFA using the Kaplan-Meier method (www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT 00382252). RESULTS: Between 2005 and 2009, 89 patients (mean age 65 years) underwent RFA for 115 lung metastases (mean size 16.2 ± 6.9 mm). The median SUVmax before RFA was 5.8 ± 4. PET/CT at 3 months and the reference standard were available in 77 patients and 100 lesions. Accuracy was 66.00% (95% CI 55.85-75.18%), sensitivity 90.91% (95 % CI 58.72-99.77 %), specificity 62.92% (95% CI 52.03-72.93%), PPV 23.26% (95% CI 11.76-38.63%), and NPV 98.25% (95% CI 90.61-99.96%). One-year OS was 94.2% (95% CI 86.6-97.5%) and the probability of being free of local recurrence 1 year after RFA was 84.6% (95% CI 75.0-90.8%). CONCLUSION: The specificity of PET/CT at 3 months is low because of persistent inflammation, especially when the lesion is close to the pleura. This technique is useful for its negative predictive value, but positive findings need to be confirmed by histology before new treatment is planned.

Bone Uptake in Prostate Cancer Patients: Diagnostic Performances of PSMA-RADS v1.0, Clinical, Biological, and 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET Features to Predict Metastasis After Biochemical Recurrence.

PURPOSE: 68 Gallium-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen-11 (PSMA) PET/CT is the new reference to identify relapse during biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer (PCa). However, this method lacks specificity for bone foci. This study aimed to report the prevalence of PCa bone metastases and to assess the diagnostic performances of PSMA reporting and data systems (RADS), clinical, biological, and imaging features for identification. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicentric retrospective cohort of consecutive patients with biochemical recurrence after local treatment was analyzed. Clinical and biological features at initial staging and during recurrence were retrieved from medical reports. The metastatic status of each bone uptake on PSMA PET/CT was determined according to histopathology, comparisons with concomitant and previous conventional imaging, prostate-specific antigen kinetic, and follow-up. Two nuclear medicine physicians assessed PSMA-RADS, anatomic location, radiological patterns, SUV max , and the presence of other molecular lesions. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify independent predictors of PCa metastases. RESULTS: In the eligible population, 98/298 patients (32.9%) showed bone uptake on PSMA PET/CT. In patients with a final diagnosis, 28/81 lesions (34.6%) were metastases. PSMA-RADS-4 or 5 showed sensitivity of 79%, specificity of 94%, and accuracy of 89%. PSMA-RADS had a significantly higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve than the initial reading in clinical practice (0.91 vs 0.83, P = 0.0074). Initial Gleason score ≥8, age ≤71 years at recurrence, and SUV max >6.21 were independent predictors of PCa metastases in multivariate logistic regression ( P = 0.0314, 0.0179, and 0.0003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Most bone uptakes at PSMA PET/CT were benign lesions. PSMA-RADS, patients and tumor characteristics, and SUV max could help identify PCa bone metastases.

Impact of 18 FDG- PET CT in the Management of Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Guidelines do not recommend FDG-PET CT for the staging of MIBC as a standard. The objectives of the study are to assess the accuracy of the FDG-PET CT for LN staging and to determine the rate of treatment modification according to FDG-PET CT results in MIBC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2017, we carried out a retrospective analysis of patients with MIBC who had a FDG-PET CT for staging in two expert centres in Bordeaux, France, and analyzed its clinical value in this setting. Nodal and metastatic staging on CT scan (CT) and FDG-PET CT were done independently. RESULTS: Accuracy of LN staging from CT and FDG-PET CT at initial diagnosis was analyzed in 85 patients (including 70 patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC)) and compared to pathological examination of resected LN. Sensitivity of FDG-PET CT was better than CT (80.8% versus 26.9%) but the specificity was low (54.2% vs. 83.1%). The Youden index was better for FDG-PET CT (0.35; 0.1 for CT) and FDG-PET CT appeared to be more accurate for determining LN staging of MIBC. FDG-PET CT findings enabled a treatment decision modification in 34/130 patients (26.1%): a therapeutic intensification (9.2%), including surgery not previously planned and/or modified fields of radiotherapy; or a de-escalation (16.9%), mostly avoiding surgery. CONCLUSION: FDG-PET CT was more sensitive for detection of LN involvement at initial diagnosis of MIBC than CT alone. In our study, treatment decisions were modified, according to FDG-PET CT results, in almost a quarter of patients.

Diagnostic accuracy and clinical impact of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography (PET-CT)-positive mediastinal lymphadenopathies in patients with thoracic or extra-thoracic malignancies.

BACKGROUND: The high sensitivity of PET-CT can identify hypermetabolic mediastinal adenopathies during cancer management, but specificity is low and a biopsy is sometimes required to eliminate benign adenopathies. METHODS: This prospective diagnostic accuracy study included patients with hypermetabolic mediastinal lymphadenopathies revealed on PET-CT during either the initial management of a cancer, treatment evaluation, or monitoring. All patients underwent EUS-FNA. Diagnoses of malignancy based on cytological analysis following EUS-FNA were compared with clinical and radiological follow-up information. The treatment strategy decided before the results of the EUS-FNA pathology reports (Multidisciplinary Team Meeting [MTM-1]) was recorded and compared to the treatment strategy decided once pathological data from EUS-FNA were available (MTM-2). MAIN FINDINGS: Between 2013 and 2018, 75 patients were included with 47 eligible and evaluable patients. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of EUS-FNA were 93%, 100%, 100% and 90%, respectively. The concordance value between the therapeutic strategies determined for MTM-1 and MTM-2 was 44.7%. There were no significant differences in the intensity of fixation on PET-CT between malignant and benign lesions. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of the minimally invasive EUS-FNA procedure is sufficiently robust to avoid the need for diagnostic surgery. The combination of PET-CT and EUS-FNA may alter the therapeutic strategy that would be considered after PET-CT alone. REGISTRATION: NCT01892501.

Diffusion-weighted MRI and PET/CT reproducibility in epithelial ovarian cancers during neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the reproducibility of diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI and 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG)-Positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) in monitoring response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten women (median age, 67 years; range: 41.8-77.3 years) with stage IIIC-IV epithelial ovarian cancers were included in this prospective trial (NCT02792959) between 2014 and 2016. All underwent initial laparoscopic staging, four cycles of carboplatine-paclitaxel-based chemotherapy and interval debulking surgery. PET/CT and DW-MRI were performed at baseline (C0), after one cycle (C1) and before surgery (C4). Two nuclear physicians and two radiologists assessed five anatomic sites for the presence of ≥1 lesion. Target lesions in each site were defined and their apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), maximal standardized uptake value (SUV-max), SUV-mean, SUL-peak, metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were monitored (i.e., 10 patients ×5 sites ×3 time-points). Their relative early and late changes were calculated. Intra/inter-observer reproducibilities of qualitative and quantitative analysis were estimated with Kappa and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs). RESULTS: For both modalities, inter- and intra-observer agreement percentages were excellent for initial staging but declined later for DW-MRI, leading to lower Kappa values for inter- and intra-observer variability (0.949 and 1 at C0, vs. 0.633 and 0.643 at C4, respectively) while Kappa values remained>0.8 for PET/CT. Inter- and intra-observer ICCs were>0.75 for SUV-max, SUL-peak, SUV-mean and their change regardless the time-point. ADC showed lower ICCs (range: 0.013-0.811). ANOVA found significant influences of the evaluation time, the measurement used (ADC, SUV-max, SUV-mean, SUV-max, SUL-peak, MTV or TLG) and their interaction on ICC values (P=0.0023, P<0.0001 and P =0.0028, respectively). CONCLUSION: While both modalities demonstrated high reproducibility at baseline, only SUV-max, SUL-peak, SUV-mean and their changes maintained high reproducibility during chemotherapy.

Single-Center Experience of Focal Thermo-Ablative Therapy After Pelvic Radiotherapy for In-Field Prostate Cancer Oligo-Recurrence.

PURPOSE: In-field prostate cancer (PCa) oligo-recurrence after pelvic radiotherapy is a challenging situation for which metastasis-directed treatments may be beneficial, but options for focal therapies are scarce. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data for patients with three or less in-field oligo-recurrent nodal, bone and/or locally recurrent (prostate, seminal vesicles, or prostatic bed) PCa lesions after radiation therapy, identified with molecular imaging (PET and/or MRI) and treated by focal ablative therapy (cryotherapy or radiofrequency) at the Institut Bergonié between 2012 and 2020. Chosen endpoints were the post-procedure PSA response (partially defined as a >50% reduction, complete as a PSA <0.05 ng/ml), progression-free survival (PFS) defined as either a biochemical relapse (defined as a rise >25% of the Nadir and above 2 ng/ml), radiological relapse (on any imaging technique), decision of treatment modification (hormonotherapy initiation or line change) or death, and tolerance. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were included. Diagnostic imaging was mostly 18F-Choline positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (PET/CT) (75.0%), prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT (9.1%) or a combination of pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT, and 99 mTc-bone scintigraphy (11.4%). PSA response was observed in 41.9% patients (partial in 30.3%, complete in 11.6%). In the hormone-sensitive exclusive focal ablation group (n = 31), partial and complete PSA responses were 32.3 and 12.9% respectively. Early local control (absence of visible residual active target) on the post-procedure imaging was achieved with 87.5% success. After a median follow-up of 30 months (IQR 13.3-56.8), the median PFS was 9 months overall (95% CI, 6-17), and 17 months (95% CI, 11-NA) for PSA responders. Complications occurred in 11.4% patients, with only one grade IIIb Dindo-Clavien event (uretral stenosis requiring endoscopic uretrotomy). CONCLUSION: In PCa patients showing in-field oligo-recurrence after pelvic radiotherapy, focal ablative treatment is a feasible option, possibly delaying a systemic treatment initiation or modification. These invasive strategies should preferably be performed in expert centers and discussed along other available focal strategies in multi-disciplinary meetings.

From palliative to curative intent: PET/CT findings in the light of breast cancer intrinsic subgroup.

PURPOSE: Among breast cancer subgroups, Luminal A is the subgroup with the best prognosis. We report the case of a young woman presenting with a localized luminal A breast cancer with a suspicious liver lesion on initial positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scan staging. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 31-year-old woman presented with localized breast cancer accessible to curative treatment. However, PET/CT staging revealed an increase of focal activity in the liver, suspicious of a secondary malignant localization, changing the care towards palliative intent. Discrepancy between breast cancer luminal A subtype and the liver lesion led to further investigations (contrast ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and biopsy), excluding a malignant process, and were in favor of toxic hepatitis, probably secondary to herbal tea consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Questioning PET/CT findings in light of the cancer subtype enabled us to rectify the diagnosis and allow this patient to be treated with curative intent.

Comparison of the binding of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R) antagonist 68Ga-RM2 and 18F-FDG in breast cancer samples.

The Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor (GRPR) is over-expressed in estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast tumors and related metastatic lymph nodes offering the opportunity of imaging and therapy of luminal tumors. 68Ga-RM2 binding and 18F-FDG binding in tumoral zones were measured and compared using tissue micro-imaging with a beta imager on 14 breast cancer samples (10 primaries and 4 associated metastatic lymph nodes). Results were then assessed against ER expression, progesterone receptor (PR) expression, HER2 over-expression or not and Ki-67 expression. GRPR immunohistochemistry (IHC) was also performed on all samples. We also retrospectively compared 68Ga-RM2 and 18F-FDG bindings to 18F-FDG SUVmax on the pre-therapeutic PET/CT examination, if available. 68Ga-RM2 binding was significantly higher in tumors expressing GRPR on IHC than in GRPR-negative tumors (P = 0.022). In ER+ tumors, binding of 68Ga-RM2 was significantly higher than 18F-FDG (P = 0.015). In tumors with low Ki-67, 68Ga-RM2 binding was also significantly increased compared to 18F-FDG (P = 0.029). Overall, the binding of 68Ga-RM2 and 18F-FDG displayed an opposite pattern in tumor samples and 68Ga-RM2 binding was significantly higher in tumors that had low 18F-FDG binding (P = 0.021). This inverse correlation was also documented in the few patients in whom a 18F-FDG PET/CT examination before surgery was available. Findings from this in vitro study suggest that GRPR targeting can be an alternative to 18F-FDG imaging in ER+ breast tumors. Moreover, because GRPR antagonists can also be labeled with lutetium-177 this opens new avenues for targeted radionuclide therapy in the subset of patients with progressive metastatic disease following conventional treatments.

The effect of renal failure on 18F-FDG uptake: a theoretic assessment.

UNLABELLED: This work addresses the issue of using (18)F-FDG PET in patients with renal failure. METHODS: A model analysis has been developed to compare tissue (18)F-FDG uptake in a patient who has normal renal function with uptake in a theoretic limiting case that assumes tracer plasma decay is tracer physical decay and is trapped irreversibly. RESULTS: This comparison has allowed us to propose, in the limiting case, that the usually injected activity be lowered by a factor of 3. We also proposed that the PET static acquisition be obtained at about 160 min after tracer injection. These 2 proposals were aimed at obtaining a similar patient radiation dose and similar tissue (18)F-FDG uptake. CONCLUSION: In patients with arbitrary renal failure (i.e., between the 2 extremes of normal function and the theoretic limiting case), we propose that the injected activity be lowered (without exceeding a factor of 3) and that the acquisition be started between 45 and 160 min after tracer injection, depending on the severity of renal failure. Furthermore, the model also shows that the more severe the renal failure is, the more overestimated is the standardized uptake value, unless the renal failure indirectly impairs tissue sensitivity to insulin and hence glucose metabolism.

[Principles, modalities and indications of the administration of Radium in cancers, focus on metastatic prostate cancer: State of arts]. / Principes, modalités et indication de l'administration du Radium dans les cancers, focus sur le cancer de la prostate métastatique : état des lieux.

Prostate cancer is the first cancer in men and has a specific tropism to bones. This tropism provided the rationale to develop bone targeting radiopharmaceutical agents, such as strontium, samarium and more recently the Radium-223, an alpha-emitter. In a phase III trial, ALSYMPCA, Radium-223 not only improved pain relief, but also impacted on overall survival. Despite an approval by both FDA and EMA, prescription of this agent remains limited by the lack of refund, especially in France. Radium-223 is currently evaluated in several clinical trials (combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormone therapy) in order to optimize the therapeutic sequences in metastatic bone prostate cancer and argues for being incorporated into the current therapeutic arsenal.

Role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in Posttreatment Evaluation of Anal Carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relevance of PET/CT and 18F-FDG as a strategy for response evaluation after chemoradiotherapy for anal cancer. For this, the performance of posttreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT, the impact on patient care, and the predictive value of metabolic response were assessed. Methods: This was a retrospective and multicenter analysis of 87 patients treated by chemoradiotherapy for anal squamous cell carcinoma between October 2007 and October 2013. All patients underwent systematic posttreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT and were followed with at least a clinical examination every 4 mo for 2 y and every 6 mo thereafter. Disease progression was confirmed by biopsy for all patients in the case of local recurrence before surgery. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models were used to test for associations between metabolic or clinical endpoints and progression-free survival (PFS) or cause-specific survival (CSS). Results: The median follow-up was 25 mo. 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed 1-8 mo (median, 4 mo) after completion of chemoradiotherapy. Overall, 25 patients relapsed and 13 died. The posttherapy 18F-FDG PET/CT did not show any abnormal 18F-FDG uptake (complete metabolic response [CMR]) in 55 patients whereas 32 displayed incomplete response (non-CMR): 15 patients with partial response and 17 with disease progression. The sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET/CT to detect residual tumor tissue was 92% (95% confidence interval [CI], 75%-97%), specificity was 85% (95% CI, 75%-92%), positive predictive value was 72% (95% CI, 61%-90%), and negative predictive value was 96.4% (95% CI, 90%-98.7%). The 2-y PFS was 96% (95% CI, 90-100) for patients with CMR and 28% (95% CI, 14-47) for non-CMR patients (P < 0.0001). The 2-y CSS was 100% for patients with CMR and 59% (95% CI, 42-84) for those without CMR (P < 0.0001). 18F-FDG PET/CT changed patient management in 14 cases (16%), with relevant modifications in 12 (14%). A Cox proportional hazards model of survival outcome indicated that a CMR was the only significant predictor of PFS and CSS (P < 0.0001). Conclusion:18F-FDG PET/CT shows good accuracy in posttreatment evaluation of anal cancer and has a relevant impact on patient management. Moreover, CMR is associated with good survival outcome. Thus, 18F-FDG PET/CT may play a significant role during posttreatment follow-up of anal cancer.

Consolidation anti-CD22 fractionated radioimmunotherapy with 90Y-epratuzumab tetraxetan following R-CHOP in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a prospective, single group, phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Radioimmunotherapy represents a potential option as consolidation after chemoimmunotherapy in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who are not candidates for transplantation. We aimed to assess activity and toxicity of fractionated radioimmunotherapy using anti-CD22 90Y-epratuzumab tetraxetan as consolidation after front-line induction chemoimmunotherapy in untreated elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. METHODS: We did a prospective, single-group, phase 2 trial at 28 hospitals in France, with patients recruited from 17 hospitals. Eligible patients were aged 60-80 years with bulky stage 2-3 or stage 3-4 CD20-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, previously untreated, and not eligible for transplantation. Patients received six cycles of R-CHOP (rituximab [375 mg/m2], cyclophosphamide [750 mg/m2], doxorubicin [50 mg/m2], and vincristine [1·4 mg/m2, up to 2 mg] all on day 1, and prednisone [40 mg/m2] daily for 5 days), administered every 14 days. 6-8 weeks after R-CHOP, responders received two doses of 15 mCi/m2 (555 MBq/m2) 90Y-epratuzumab tetraxetan administered 1 week apart. The primary endpoint was 2 year event-free survival in all registered eligible patients who received at least 1 day of study treatment; the safety analysis was done in the same population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00906841. FINDINGS: Between Oct 22, 2008, and Dec 16, 2010, we recruited 75 patients, of whom four (5%) were excluded after central pathology review; hence, 71 (95%) patients were included in the analysis. All patients started induction treatment; 57 (80%) received radioimmunotherapy. With a median follow-up of 37 months (IQR 30-44), the estimated 2 year event-free survival was 75% (95% CI 63-84). Radioimmunotherapy toxicity consisted of grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia in 48 (84%) of 57 patients and neutropenia in 45 (79%) of 57 patients. One patient developed myelodysplastic syndrome 28 months after receiving radioimmunotherapy and one patient developed acute myeloid leukaemia 5 months after receiving radioimmunotherapy. INTERPRETATION: Fractionated radioimmunotherapy with 90Y-epratuzumab tetraxetan might be appropriate for response consolidation after induction chemotherapy in older patients with advanced diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, but further comparative studies are needed. FUNDING: Immunomedics, Amgen, Canceropôle Grand Ouest, the GOELAMS/LYSA group and the French National Agency for Research (Investissements d'Avenir).

18F-DOPA PET/CT in Orbital Metastasis From Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma.

A 53-year-old-woman is being followed up for a sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma that was initially treated surgically. Nine years later, a progressive increase in calcitonin levels along with headaches was observed. An orbital metastasis from medullary thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed by performing an F-DOPA PET/CT. The orbital lesion was treated by an external beam radiation. Four months later, an MRI revealed a global morphological stability and a reduction in calcitonin levels.

Benign cystic mesothelioma: false-positive iodine accumulation in a patient with oncocytic follicular thyroid carcinoma.

Whole-body (131I) scintigraphy (WBS) is used to detect residual or metastatic tissue during treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in combination with thyroglobulin (Tg) and ultrasonography of the neck. It is a highly sensitive method, but there is a high rate of false positives. We report the case of a 52-year-old woman with false-positive iodine accumulation in a benign cystic mesothelioma discovered during treatment for a oncocytic follicular thyroid carcinoma (stage pT2 pNx Mx). This lesion was detected by WBS and confirmed by surgery and histopathologic analysis.

Brain metastases from thyroid carcinoma: a retrospective study of 21 patients.

BACKGROUND: Brain metastases (BM) from differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) are uncommon, and many questions about their management remain unsolved. The objective of this retrospective study was to analyze the characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of patients with BM from DTC. METHODS: Among the 1523 patients with a DTC prospectively recorded in institutional databases between 1989 and 2012, 21 patients (1.4%) with BM were retrospectively retrieved. Patient characteristics, histological findings on initial thyroidectomy specimen, treatments, and time to death were reviewed. Overall survival (OS) was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Survival curves for various subgroups of patients according to baseline characteristics and treatment received were compared. RESULTS: The mean age at initial and BM diagnosis was, respectively, 52.7 and 63.2 years. World Health Organization performance status (PS) at BM diagnosis was good (<2) for 12 patients and poor (≥2) for 9. The initial carcinoma was papillary for 12 patients, follicular for 5, and poorly differentiated for 4. Eighteen patients had other previous and/or synchronous distant metastases: lung (11), bone (10), and others (2 peritoneum, 1 liver, 1 adrenal gland, and 1 uterine cervix). The average interval between the first metastasis and the BM was 3 years (range 0-35.6 years). The mean number and the mean size of BM were, respectively, 2.8 (range 1-10) and 22.5 mm (range 3-44 mm). Surgery was performed for 10 patients and radiotherapy (RT) for 18, with 2 stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), 2 conformal RT limited to the metastasis, and 15 whole-brain RT. The median OS after BM was 7.1 months. OS at 1 and 2 years were 41.6% and 35.6%. PS and realization of surgery or SRS had an impact on survival, with OS of 27 months when PS <2 versus 3 months when PS ≥2 (p=0.0009), and OS of 11.9 months after surgery or SRS versus 3.6 months in their absence (p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: BM from thyroid cancer may have an indolent evolution with survival of one to two years or longer for specific groups of patients. Therefore, aggressive treatment options such as neurosurgery and RT should be strongly considered in patients with good PS.

A papillary thyroid microcarcinoma revealed by a single bone lesion with no poor prognostic factors.

Objectives. Thyroid carcinomas incidence, in particular papillary variants, is increasing. These cancers are generally considered to have excellent prognosis, and papillary microcarcinomas are usually noninvasive. Many prognostic histopathology factors have been described to guide therapeutic decisions. Most patients are treated with total thyroidectomy without radioiodine treatment or partial surgery. Case Summary. A 65-year-old man with no significant medical history presented with pain in the left chest wall that had been present for several months. A computed tomography (CT) found a large tissue mass of 4 cm responsible for lysis of the middle arch of the 4th rib on the left. It was a single lesion, highly hypermetabolic on the 18-FDG PET/CT. The histology analysis of the biopsy and surgical specimen favored an adenocarcinoma with immunostaining positive for TTF1 and thyroglobulin (Tg). The total thyroidectomy carried out subsequently revealed a 4 mm papillary microcarcinoma with vesicular architecture of the right lobe, well delimited and distant from the capsule without vascular embolisms. After two radioiodine treatments, the patient is in complete clinical, biological, and radiological remission. Conclusion. This extremely rare case of a singular bone metastasis revealing a papillary thyroid microcarcinoma illustrates the necessity of further research to better characterize the forms of papillary thyroid microcarcinomas with potentially poor prognosis.