Abstract:
Background The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) is a prognostic factor of inoperable advanced (stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the role of SUVmax in early-stage NSCLC patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy is debated. In this study, we examined the correlation between SUVmax and survival among these patients.
Patients and methods Sixty-four patients with stage ⅠA~ⅢB NSCLC who underwent neoadjuvant therapy followed by curative-intent surgery in Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital were retrospectively reviewed from January 2008 to December 2017. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) was performed before and after neoadjuvant therapy. Prognostic factors were determined by the COX proportional hazard model, while metabolic factors were compared by receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) with area under the ROC curve (AUC) values. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated and compared by Kaplan-Meier and log-rank analyses, respectively.
Results SUVmax2 (SUVmax after neoadjuvant therapy) was found to be an independent prognostic factor of DFS (P=0.019, AUC=0.702) and OS (P<0.001, AUC=0.746). The cutoff value of SUVmax2 was 6.0 in the ROC analysis at 42 months after surgery for DFS (sensitivity: 0.566, specificity: 0.818) and OS (sensitivity: 0.800, specificity: 0.636). The survival curves dichotomized at the SUVmax2 cutoff value were significantly correlated with DFS (SUVmax2≥6, SUVmax2<6, median: 13.1 months vs. 21.9 months; P=0.023) and OS (SUVmax2≥6, SUVmax2<6, median: 23.1 months vs. 56.4 months; P<0.001).
Conclusion As a potential independent prognostic factor for DFS and OS in patients with NSCLC after neoadjuvant therapy, SUVmax2 may serve as a stratification parameter after neoadjuvant treatment for assessment of high and low-risk patients.