Key insights into antiresorptive drug use and osteonecrosis in osteoporotic patients undergoing tooth extractions: A clinical and CBCT assessment.

This study investigates the effects of antiresorptive drugs and risk factors for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws in osteoporotic patients undergoing tooth extraction. Among the findings, antiresorptive-treated patients had thicker lamina dura and longer healing times. Additionally, corticosteroid intake and multi-rooted teeth carried a higher osteonecrosis risk. Bone sequestrum indicated osteonecrosis. PURPOSE: To describe the effects of antiresorptive drugs (ARD) in the maxilla and mandible and risk factors for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) in osteoporotic patients undergoing tooth extractions using clinical data and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study collected clinical and CBCT data from 176 patients. The study group (n = 78; 224 extractions) received ARD treatment, underwent tooth extraction, and had a pre-operative CBCT. Additionally, age-, sex-, and tooth-matched controls were selected (n = 98; 227 extractions). Radiographic examinations were performed independently by three calibrated examiners. Statistical analysis included Chi-square, Fisher's exact, Mann-Whitney U, and t-tests to contrast clinical and radiographic data between study and control, MRONJ + and MRONJ - , and bisphosphonate and denosumab patients/sites. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: From the study group, 4 patients (5%) and 5 sites (2%) developed MRONJ after tooth extraction. ARD-treated patients exhibited significantly more thickening of the lamina dura and a longer average mucosal healing time (4.4 weeks) than controls (2.6 weeks). In the study group, MRONJ risk significantly increased with corticosteroid intake and in multi-rooted teeth. No significant differences between bisphosphonates and denosumab use were seen in the tomographic features (p > 0.05). Lastly, bone sequestrum was exclusively observed in osteoporotic patients, who exhibited post-operative exposed bone or histological evidence of osteonecrosis. CONCLUSION: Osteoporotic patients under ARD may exhibit thickening of the lamina dura and prolonged post-operative healing. Among these patients, multi-rooted teeth are at higher risk for MRONJ than single-rooted teeth. Sequester formation is a radiographic indicator of osteonecrosis.

Navigating the complexities and controversies of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ): a critical update and consensus statement.

OBJECTIVES: To provide a critical update identifying the knowledge gaps and controversies in medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) within the Belgian healthcare context and outline opportunities for improvement and research in these areas. METHODS: A literature review was performed to identify guidelines from international clinical societies in oncology or oral and maxillofacial surgery on diagnosing, preventing, and treating MRONJ. The recommendations were critically assessed in light of recent developments in the field and confronted with the clinical experience of experts. RESULTS: Despite progress in the diagnostic criteria of MRONJ, the continued need for an 8-week timeout period should be reconsidered. Furthermore, 3D imaging techniques should be introduced to improve diagnosis and staging. The staging system remains ambiguous regarding Stage 0 MRONJ, and ongoing confusion exists regarding the term non-exposed MRONJ. The prevention of MRONJ should be tailored, considering the individual patient's risk of MRONJ, frailty, and life expectancy. More research seems needed into the efficacy and safety of drug holidays, considering the risks of rebound remodeling on fractures. With renewed interest in surgical and adjunct management techniques, adequately designed clinical studies are needed to help translate trial outcomes into universally applicable treatment guidelines taking into account individual patient characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Important knowledge gaps remain and hamper the development of clinical guidelines. Several controversies were identified where consensus is lacking, and further harmonization between stakeholders is necessary. Finally, the need for randomized controlled comparative clinical trials in MRONJ resonates harder than ever to identify the best treatment for individual patients.

EANM practice guideline for quantitative SPECT-CT.

PURPOSE: Quantitative SPECT-CT is a modality of growing importance with initial developments in post radionuclide therapy dosimetry, and more recent expansion into bone, cardiac and brain imaging together with the concept of theranostics more generally. The aim of this document is to provide guidelines for nuclear medicine departments setting up and developing their quantitative SPECT-CT service with guidance on protocols, harmonisation and clinical use cases. METHODS: These practice guidelines were written by members of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine Physics, Dosimetry, Oncology and Bone committees representing the current major stakeholders in Quantitative SPECT-CT. The guidelines have also been reviewed and approved by all EANM committees and have been endorsed by the European Association of Nuclear Medicine. CONCLUSION: The present practice guidelines will help practitioners, scientists and researchers perform high-quality quantitative SPECT-CT and will provide a framework for the continuing development of quantitative SPECT-CT as an established modality.

Local radiographic risk factors for MRONJ in osteoporotic patients undergoing tooth extraction.

OBJECTIVE: To identify local radiographic risk factors for Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (MRONJ) in osteoporotic patients treated with antiresorptive drugs (ARD) and undergoing tooth extraction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients were included in this retrospective, longitudinal, case-control study, if having at least one administration of ARD, underwent tooth extraction(s), and had pre- and post-operative panoramic radiographs. Additionally, a matched control group was selected. Three calibrated, blinded, and independent observers assessed each tooth extraction site. Statistical analysis compared control against study group, and within the latter, sites MRONJ+ and MRONJ-. RESULTS: In total, 120 patients (99 females/21 males) with 354 tooth extractions were included, from which nine patients (7.5%) and eleven tooth extraction sites (3.1%) developed MRONJ. When comparing control with study group, the latter showed significantly more thickened lamina dura, persistence of the alveolar socket, heterogeneous bone patterns, and sequestrum formation. In the study group, MRONJ developed significantly more in males (19%, p = 0.049), smokers (25%, p = 0.008), in the mandible (82%, p = 0.027), when identifying a radiolucent or sclerotic trabecular pattern (p = 0.004) or when extracting teeth with furcation involvement (p < 0.001), root remnants (p = 0.017), or unrestored caries lesions (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Tooth extraction sites showing radiographic signs of chronic dental infection are prone to MRONJ.

Positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging as a research tool in musculoskeletal conditions.

Compared to positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), the uptake of PET- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been slow, even more so in clinical practice compared to the (pre-)clinical research setting. However, for applications in musculoskeletal (MSK) research, the combination of PET and MRI into a single modality offers attractive advantages over other imaging modalities. Most importantly, MRI has exquisite soft-tissue detail without the use of contrast agents or ionizing radiation, superior bone marrow visualization, and an extensive spectrum of distinct multiparametric assessment methods. In the preclinical setting, the introduction of PET inserts for small-animal MRI machines has proven to be a successful concept in bringing this technology to the lab. Initial hurdles in quantification have been mainly overcome in this setting. In parallel, a promising range of radiochemistry techniques has been developed to create multimodality probes that offer the possibility of simultaneously querying different metabolic pathways. Not only will these applications help in elucidating disease mechanisms, but they can also facilitate drug development. The clinical applications of PET/MRI in MSK are still limited, but encouraging initial results with novel radiotracers suggest a high potential for use in various MSK conditions, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and inflammation and infection. Further innovations will be required to bring down the cost of PET/MRI to justify a broader clinical implementation, and remaining issues with quality control and standardization also need to be addressed. Nevertheless, PET/MRI is a powerful platform for MSK research with distinct qualities that are not offered by other techniques.

Long-term clinical results from 10 years follow-up after radiosynoviorthesis: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the long-term anti-inflammatory effect and safety of 90-Yttrium and 166-Holmium radiosynoviorthesis (RSO) for treating chronic knee synovitis of various origins. METHODS: A total of 820 patients were included in this study and were followed up to 10 years after the procedure for objective and subjective changes in signs and symptoms of inflammation. RESULTS: Five years after RSO, excellent and good results were seen in 71% (95% CI 67-74%) of patients. Six, seven, eight and nine years following RSO, efficacy did not decrease significantly. Ten years after RSO, the effectiveness of the therapy fell to 65% (95% CI 59-71%). Overall, 64% of patients did not need another joint puncture ten years after RSO. We achieved excellent to good results at 5 years in 79% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 59% with ankylosing spondylitis, and 62% with osteoarthritis. Efficacy was mainly affected by the local X-ray stage of the knee joint. A significant association was also found between the diagnosis of the underlying disease and the success of radiosynoviorthesis. Efficacy, however, was not substantially affected by any of the following factors: the duration of synovitis, the number of punctures before radiosynoviorthesis, the number of intraarticular steroid injections before the procedure, or the number of interventions before radiosynoviorthesis (radiotherapy, surgery). CONCLUSIONS: Radiosynoviorthesis is an effective long-term method of treating chronic synovitis. The treatment showed the most favorable effects in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and those with mild to moderate degenerative osseous changes.

Prospective study of Na[18F]F PET/CT for cancer staging in morbidly obese patients compared with [99mTc]Tc-MDP whole-body planar, SPECT and SPECT/CT.

PURPOSE: This prospective study aims to assess the diagnostic test characteristics of Na[18F]F PET/CT for the skeletal staging of cancer in morbidly obese patients compared with 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate (MDP), whole-body planar (WBS), SPECT, and SPECT/CT acquisitions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred seventeen obese patients (BMI 46.5 ± 6.1 kg/m2 and mean age, 59.0 years; range 32-89 years) with BMI > 40 kg/m2 were prospectively enrolled and underwent [99mTc]Tc-MDP WBS, SPECT, SPECT/CT, and Na[18F]F PET/CT within two weeks for the osseous staging of a malignancy. Images were assessed qualitatively using a 3-point scale. Patient and lesion-based diagnostic test characteristics were estimated using an optimistic and pessimistic dichotomization method. RESULTS: Bone metastases were confirmed in 44 patients. Patient-based optimistic diagnostic test characteristics were (sensitivity, specificity, overall accuracy): Na[18F]F PET/CT (95.5%, 95.9%, 95.7%), [99mTc]Tc-MDP WBS (52.3%, 71.2%, 64.1%), SPECT (61.4%, 80.8%, 73.5%) and SPECT/CT (65.9%, 91.8%, 82.1%). Lesion-based optimistic diagnostic test characteristics were: Na[18F]F PET/CT (97.7%, 97.9%, 97.7%), [99mTc]Tc-MDP WBS (39%, 67%, 48.9%), SPECT (52.9%, 93.6%, 67.3%) and SPECT/CT (65.9%, 91.8%, 82.1%). There was no significant difference in the specificity of Na[18F]F and SPECT/CT. All other pairwise comparisons were significant (p<.001). ROC curve analysis showed a high overall accuracy of Na[18F]F with significantly higher AUCs for Na[18F]F PET/CT compared to [99mTc]Tc-MDP WBS, SPECT, and SPECT/CT on both patient and lesion-based analysis (p<.001). Moreover, Na[18F]F PET/CT changed patient management in 38% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Na[18F]F PET/CT may be the preferred imaging modality for skeletal staging in morbidly obese patients. The technique provides excellent diagnostic test characteristics superior to [99mTc]Tc-MDP bone scan (including SPECT/CT), impacts patient management, has an acceptable radiation exposure profile, and is well-tolerated. Further cost-effectiveness evaluations are warranted.

Update on imaging in chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder: promising role of functional imaging.

Disorders of mineral metabolism and bone disease are common complications in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Bone biopsies, bone scintigraphy, biochemical markers, and plain films have been used to assess bone disorders and bone turnover. Of these, functional imaging is less invasive than bone/marrow sampling, more specific than serum markers and is therefore ideally placed to assess total skeletal metabolism. 18F-sodium fluoride (NaF) PET/CT is an excellent bone-seeking agent superior to conventional bone scan in CKD patients due to its high bone uptake, rapid single-pass extraction, and minimal binding to serum proteins. Due to these properties, 18F-NaF can better assess the skeletal metabolism on primary diagnosis and following treatment in CKD patients. With the increased accessibility of PET scanners, it is likely that PET scanning with bone-specific tracers such as 18F-NaF will be used more regularly for clinical assessment and quantitation of bone kinetics. This article describes the pattern of scintigraphic/functional appearances secondary to musculoskeletal alterations that might occur in patients with CKD.

Early Changes in [18F]FDG Uptake as a Readout for PI3K/Akt/mTOR Targeted Drugs in HER-2-Positive Cancer Xenografts.

We investigated the potential use of [18F]FDG PET as a response biomarker for PI3K pathway targeting therapies in two HER-2-overexpressing cancer models. Methods. CD-1 nude mice were inoculated with HER-2-overexpressing JIMT1 (trastuzumab-resistant) or SKOV3 (trastuzumab-sensitive) human cancer cells. Animals were treated with trastuzumab, everolimus (mTOR inhibitor), PIK90 (PI3K inhibitor), saline, or combination therapy. [18F]FDG scans were performed at baseline, two, and seven days after the start of the therapy. Tumors were delineated on CT images and relative tumor volumes (RTV) and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) were calculated. Levels of pS6 and pAkt on protein tumor lysates were determined with ELISA. Results. In the SKOV3 xenografts, all treatment schedules resulted in a gradual decrease in RTV and delta SUVmax (ΔSUVmax). For all treatments combined, ΔSUVmax after 2 days was predictive for RTV after 7 days (r = 0.69, p = 0.030). In JIMT1 tumors, monotherapy with everolimus or PIK90 resulted in a decrease in RTV (-30% ± 10% and -20% ± 20%, respectively) and ΔSUVmax (-39% ± 36% and -42% ± 8%, respectively) after 7 days of treatment, but not earlier, while trastuzumab resulted in nonsignificant increases compared to control. Combination therapies resulted in RTV and ΔSUVmax decrease already at day 2, except for trastuzumab+everolimus, where an early flare was observed. For all treatments combined, ΔSUVmax after 2 days was predictive for RTV after 7 days (r = 0.48, p = 0.028), but the correlation could be improved when combination with everolimus (r = 0.59, p = 0.023) or trastuzumab (r = 0.69, p = 0.015) was excluded. Conclusion. Reduction in [18F]FDG after 2 days correlated with tumor volume changes after 7 days of treatment and confirms the use of [18F]FDG PET as an early response biomarker. Treatment response can however be underestimated in schedules containing trastuzumab or everolimus due to temporary increased [18F]FDG uptake secondary to negative feedback loop and crosstalk between different pathways.

Molecular Imaging of Apoptosis: The Case of Caspase-3 Radiotracers.

The molecular imaging of apoptosis remains an important method for the diagnosis and monitoring of the progression of certain diseases and the evaluation of the efficacy of anticancer apoptosis-inducing therapies. Among the multiple biomarkers involved in apoptosis, activated caspase-3 is an attractive target, as it is the most abundant of the executioner caspases. Nuclear imaging is a good candidate, as it combines a high depth of tissue penetration and high sensitivity, features necessary to detect small changes in levels of apoptosis. However, designing a caspase-3 radiotracer comes with challenges, such as selectivity, cell permeability and transient caspase-3 activation. In this review, we discuss the different caspase-3 radiotracers for the imaging of apoptosis together with the challenges of the translation of various apoptosis-imaging strategies in clinical trials.

Quantification of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake to detect residual nodal disease in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after chemoradiotherapy: results from the ECLYPS study.

BACKGROUND: The Hopkins criteria were introduced for nodal response evaluation after therapy in head and neck cancer, but its superiority over quantification is not yet confirmed. METHODS: SUVbody weight thresholds and lesion-to-background ratios were explored in a prospective multicenter study of standardized FDG-PET/CT 12 weeks after CRT in newly diagnosed locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC) patients (ECLYPS). Reference standard was histology, negative FDG-PET/CT at 12 months after treatment or ≥ 2 years of negative follow-up. Area under the receiver operator characteristics curves (AUROC) were estimated and obtained thresholds were validated in an independent cohort of HNSCC patients (n = 127). RESULTS: In ECLYPS, 124 patients were available for quantification. With a median follow-up of 20.4 months, 23 (18.5%) nodal neck recurrences were observed. A SUV70 threshold of 2.2 (AUROC = 0.89; sensitivity = 79.7%; specificity = 80.8%) was identified as optimal metric to identify nodal recurrence within 1 year after therapy. For lesion-to-background ratios, an SUV50/SUVliver threshold of 0.96 (AUROC = 0.89; sensitivity = 79.7%; specificity = 82.8%) had the best performance. Compared with Hopkins criteria (AUROC = 0.81), SUV70 and SUV50/SUVliver provided a borderline significant (p = 0.040 and p = 0.094, respectively) improvement. Validation of thresholds yielded similar AUROC values (SUV70 = 0.93, SUV50/SUVliver = 0.95), and were comparable to the Hopkins score (AUROC = 0.91; not statistically significant). CONCLUSION: FDG quantification detects nodal relapse in LAHNSCC patients. When using EARL standardized PET acquisitions and reconstruction, absolute SUV metrics (SUV70 threshold 2.2) prove robust, yet ratios (SUV50/SUVliver, threshold 0.96) may be more useful in routine clinical care. In this setting, the diagnostic value of quantification is comparable to the Hopkins criteria. TRIAL REGISTRATION: US National Library for Medicine, NCT01179360. Registered 11 August 2010, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01179360.

Preventing, identifying, and managing medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: a practical guide for nurses and other allied healthcare professionals.

BACKGROUND: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is an infrequent, but potentially serious, adverse event that can occur after exposure to bone-modifying agents (BMAs; e.g., bisphosphonates, denosumab, and antiangiogenic therapies). BMAs are typically used at higher doses to prevent skeletal-related events in cancer patients and at lower doses for osteoporosis/bone loss. MRONJ can cause significant pain, reduce quality of life, and can be difficult to treat, requiring a multiprofessional approach to care. METHODS: We reviewed the literature and guidelines to summarize a practical guide on MRONJ for nurses and other allied healthcare professionals. RESULTS: While there is a risk of MRONJ with BMAs, this should be considered in relation to the benefits of treatment. Nurses and other allied healthcare professionals can play a key role alongside physicians and dentists in assessing MRONJ risk, identifying MRONJ, counseling the patient on the benefit-risk of BMA treatment, preventing MRONJ, and managing the care pathway of these patients. Assessing patients for MRONJ risk factors before starting BMA treatment can guide preventative measures to reduce the risk of MRONJ. Nurses can play a pivotal role in facilitating multiprofessional management of MRONJ by communicating with patients to ensure compliance with preventative measures, and with patients' physicians and dentists to ensure early detection and referral for prompt treatment of MRONJ. CONCLUSIONS: This review summarizes current evidence on MRONJ and provides practical guidance for nurses, from before BMA treatment is started through to approaches that can be taken to prevent and manage MRONJ in patients receiving BMAs.

Spectrum of false positive 18F-sodium fluoride (NaF) bone PET/CT findings in Oncology imaging; A narrative pictorial review of cases from a single institution.

Fluorine-18-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) is a positron emission tomography (PET) bone imaging agent mainly used for oncology staging but may also be used in the evaluation of benign bone and joint pathology conditions. Fluorine-18-NaF is an excellent bone-seeking agent with high bone uptake owing to favorable biodistribution with rapid single-pass extraction, limited plasma protein binding and prompt renal clearance. Fluorine-18-NaF PET/computed tomography (CT) is highly sensitive in identifying both sclerotic and lytic bone metastatic lesions. Occasionally 18F-NaF uptake in benign bone lesions can mimic malignantpathology. In these cases, the pattern of 18F-NaF uptake may elicit a specific diagnosis and correlation with clinical information and morphological information from correlative CT is essential for a correct diagnosis. In the present article, we present a series of clinical cases demonstrating examples of 18F-NaF uptake in benign lesions which can simulate malignant pathology in patients undergoing cancer staging.

Bloodpool SPECT as part of bone SPECT/CT in painful total knee arthroplasty (TKA): validation and potential biomarker of prosthesis biomechanics.

PURPOSE: To compare bloodpool SPECT with planar imaging in bone SPECT/CT of painful total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with respect to inter-rater agreement, confidence, prosthesis outcome, and biomechanical functioning. METHODS: Retrospective study of bloodpool SPECT and planar control images. Four raters used the validated Bruderholz scheme and a 5-point scale to grade uptake. Inter-rater agreement and overall confidence scores were calculated. Variable cluster analysis was performed to identify patterns of uptake, and associations between patterns and prosthesis outcome and biomechanical functioning were examined. RESULTS: In all, 55 knees in 43 patients were analyzed (median follow-up 17 months; revision rate 21.8%). SPECT significantly improved inter-rater agreement in 24% of regions (all P < 0.05) and overall confidence by 20% (P < 0.001). Regional uptake cluster analysis showed improved antero-posterior separation with SPECT, and distinct patterns associated with prosthesis survival in lateral femoral (P = 0.041) and medial tibial (P < 0.001) regions. The prognostic value of SPECT outperformed planar imaging for tibial (P < 0.001), patellar (P = 0.009), and synovial (P = 0.040) assessment. Internal femoral malrotation resulted in increased uptake in posteromedial (P = 0.042) and anterolateral (P = 0.016) femoral, and lateral patellar (P = 0.011) regions. Internal tibial malrotation increased uptake in posterolateral (P = 0.026) and posteromedial tibial (P = 0.005), and medial patellar regions (P = 0.004). Bloodpool SPECT improved the prognostic value of late-phase SPECT/CT for the assessment of the medial tibial region. CONCLUSIONS: Bloodpool SPECT outperforms planar assessment of painful TKAs and the identification of distinct uptake patterns make it a potentially clinically relevant biomarker of prosthesis survival and biomechanical functioning.

The changing role of radium-223 in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer: has the EMA missed the mark with revising the label?

Radium-223 (223Ra) is a life-prolonging treatment in symptomatic men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and bone metastases, but no visceral disease, regardless of prior treatment with docetaxel. Together with four other drugs (i.e. abiraterone, cabazitaxel, docetaxel, enzalutamide), it has been available for clinical use since 2013 and has been shown to also provide benefits in quality-of-life and societal benefits. However, in 2018 the European Medicines Agency ruled to restrict the use of radium-223 to a more advanced disease setting after at least two lines of one or the other life-prolonging agent. This decision was triggered by the results of a safety interim analysis of ERA-223, a trial investigating the combination of 223Ra and abiraterone versus abiraterone alone in patients without prior chemotherapy (with the exception of adjuvant treatment) with asymptomatic bone predominant mCRPC. That safety analysis showed an early increased risk of fracture and deaths with the combination treatment. This review critically appraises the available and emerging data with 223Ra treatment in an attempt to assess the appropriateness of the revised label of radium-223.

Molecular imaging of bone metastases using bone targeted tracers.

Molecular imaging using bone targeted tracers has been used in clinical practice for almost fifty years and still plays an essential role in the diagnosis and follow-up of bone metastases. It includes both [99mTc]bisphosphonates for bone scan and [18F]NaF for positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) which are very sensitive to detect osteoblastic activity, but it is important to consider several aspects to increase the specificity of reported findings (such as specific tracer characteristics and mechanism of action, patient's clinical history, common metastatic patterns, changes after treatment, limitations of the technique, variations and pitfalls). This will enable useful information for clinical management being provided in the report. Furthermore, iatrogenic skeletal adverse events are common and they should also be identified, as they have impact on patient's quality of life. This review makes a brief summary of the mechanism of action of bone targeted tracers, followed by a discussion of classic patterns of bone metastasis, treatment response assessment and iatrogenic skeletal complications. The value of hybrid imaging techniques with bone targeted tracers, including single photon emission computed tomography and PET/CT is also explored. The final part summarizes new bone targeted tracers with superior imaging characteristics that are being developed, and which may further enhance the applications of radionuclide bone imaging.

Quantitative radionuclide imaging of bone metastases.

By improving the localization of foci of pathological tracer uptake and offering information on their computed tomography (CT) morphology, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT hybrid imaging has considerably improved the diagnostic accuracy of skeletal scintigraphy. SPECT/CT also has the potential to measure tracer uptake in vivo in absolute units. The present article reviews the methodology for and the potential clinical impact of quantitative skeletal scintigraphy.

Bone metastases in the era of targeted treatments: insights from molecular biology.

Bone metastases remain a common feature of advanced cancers and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Recent research has identified promising novel treatment targets to improve current treatment strategies for bone metastatic disease. This review summarizes the well-known and recently discovered molecular biology pathways in bone that govern normal physiological remodeling or drive the pathophysiological changes observed when bone metastases are present. In the rapidly changing world of targeted cancer treatments, it is important to recognize the specific treatment effects induced in bone by these agents and the potential impact on common imaging strategies. The osteoclastic targets (bisphosphonates, LGR4, RANKL, mTOR, MET-VEGFR, cathepsin K, Src, Dock 5) and the osteoblastic targets (Wnt and endothelin) are discussed, and the emerging field of osteo-immunity is introduced as potential future therapeutic target. Finally, a summary is provided of available trial data for agents that target these pathways and that have been assessed in patients. The ultimate goal of research into novel pathways and targets involved in the tumor-bone microenvironment is to tackle one of the great remaining unmet needs in oncology, that is finding a cure for bone metastatic disease.

RANK-RANKL Signaling in Cancer of the Uterine Cervix: A Review.

RANK ligand (RANKL) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor alpha superfamily of cytokines. It is the only known ligand binding to a membrane receptor named receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK), thereby triggering recruitment of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associated factor (TRAF) adaptor proteins and activation of downstream pathways. RANK/RANKL signaling is controlled by a decoy receptor called osteoprotegerin (OPG), but also has additional more complex levels of regulation. The existing literature on RANK/RANKL signaling in cervical cancer was reviewed, particularly focusing on the effects on the microenvironment. RANKL and RANK are frequently co-expressed in cervical cancer cells lines and in carcinoma of the uterine cervix. RANKL and OPG expression strongly increases during cervical cancer progression. RANKL is directly secreted by cervical cancer cells, which may be a mechanism they use to create an immune suppressive environment. RANKL induces expression of multiple activating cytokines by dendritic cells. High RANK mRNA levels and high immunohistochemical OPG expression are significantly correlated with high clinical stage, tumor grade, presence of lymph node metastases, and poor overall survival. Inhibition of RANKL signaling has a direct effect on tumor cell proliferation and behavior, but also alters the microenvironment. Abundant circumstantial evidence suggests that RANKL inhibition may (partially) reverse an immunosuppressive status. The use of denosumab, a monoclonal antibody directed to RANKL, as an immunomodulatory strategy is an attractive concept which should be further explored in combination with immune therapy in patients with cervical cancer.

FDG-PET/CT for treatment response assessment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic performance.

PURPOSE: 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) is increasingly used to evaluate treatment response in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This analysis assessed the diagnostic value of FDG-PET/CT in detecting nodal disease within 6 months after treatment, considering patient and disease characteristics. METHODS: A systematic review was performed using the MEDLINE and Web of Knowledge databases. The results were pooled using a bivariate random effects model of the sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: Out of 22 identified studies, a meta-analysis of 20 studies (1293 patients) was performed. The pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio (with 95% CI) were 85% (76-91%), 93% (89-96%) and 76 (35-165), respectively. With the prevalence set at 10%, the positive and negative predictive values were 58% and 98%. There was significant heterogeneity between the trials (p < 0.001). HPV positive tumors were associated with lower sensitivity (75% vs 89%; p = 0.01) and specificity (87% vs 95%; p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: FDG-PET/CT within 6 months after (chemo)radiotherapy in HNSCC patients is a reliable method for ruling out residual/recurrent nodal disease and obviates the need for therapeutic intervention. However, FDG-PET/CT may be less reliable in HPV positive tumors and the optimal surveillance strategy remains to be determined.