PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Treatment plans for brain metastases more accurately determined with aid of molecular imaging trace

2013-12-03
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Susan Martonik
smartonik@snmmi.org
703-652-6773
Society of Nuclear Medicine
Treatment plans for brain metastases more accurately determined with aid of molecular imaging trace Reston, Va. (December 2, 2013) – Imaging with the molecular imaging tracer 18F-FDOPA can help distinguish radiation-induced lesions from new tumor growth in patients who have been treated with radiation for brain metastases, according to new research published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Using this amino acid tracer, researchers found that physicians could accurately differentiate the two types of lesions 83 percent of the time. Progression-free survival could also be predicted through evaluating the 18F-FDOPA imaging results.

Brain metastases occur in 20-40 percent of all cancer patients, particularly in those with non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer and melanoma. They account for 170,000 new cases per year in the United States, and prognosis is poor. Treatment for brain metastases typically includes a combination of surgery, radiation treatment and chemotherapy.

"Histopathological changes in neural tissue treated with radiation could trigger clinical and imaging manifestations which are very similar to those caused by tumor growth," said Karlo J. Lizarraga, MD, MS, lead author of the study "18F-FDOPA PET for Differentiating Recurrent or Progressive Brain Metastatic Tumors from Late or Delayed Radiation Injury After Radiation Treatment." "The challenge is then to differentiate whether these manifestations are due to radiation or to tumor progression or recurrence. Accurate and timely distinction between these two possibilities can significantly affect patient care, and outcome for treatment modalities are completely different for each case."

In the retrospective study, researchers analyzed images from 32 patients who had 83 previously irradiated brain metastases and who underwent 18F-FDOPA positron emission tomography (PET). The studies were analyzed both semiquantitatively and visually to determine whether lesions were caused by radiation injury or were recurrent or progressive brain metastases. Results were verified by histopathological analysis or clinical follow-up. The prognostic power of 18F-FDOPA in predicting progression-free survival and overall survival was also analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression methods.

The best overall accuracy for differentiating between the two types of lesions was achieved using visual scoring, which had a sensitivity of 81.3 percent, a specificity of 84.3 percent and an overall accuracy of 83.1 percent. The semiquantitative analysis resulted in a sensitivity of 81.3 percent, a specificity of 72.5 percent and an overall accuracy of 75.9 percent.

Researchers also found that evaluations with 18F-FDOPA PET was highly prognostic of progression-free survival, as lesions with a negative PET result had a mean time to progression that was 4.6 times longer than lesions with positive 18F-FDOPA PET results. Additionally, a trend toward predicting overall survival was also seen.

"18F-FDOPA PET imaging is currently available in few centers. The longer physical half-life of 18F-FDOPA, when compared to other amino acid tracers, gives it the advantage of potential automated production and transport to PET centers for widespread use," noted Lizarraga.

### Authors of the article "18F-FDOPA PET for Differentiating Recurrent or Progressive Brain Metastatic Tumors from Late or Delayed Radiation Injury After Radiation Treatment"include Karlo J. Lizarraga, Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; Martin Allen-Aurebach, Johannes Czernin, Michael E. Phelps and Wei Chen, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California; Antonio A. F. DeSalles, Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, and Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California; and William H. Yong, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California.


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Researchers turn to machines to identify breast cancer type

2013-12-03
Researchers turn to machines to identify breast cancer type (Edmonton) Researchers from the University of Alberta and Alberta Health Services have created a computer algorithm that successfully predicts whether estrogen is sending signals to cancer cells to grow ...

Prescription opioid abusers prefer to get high on oxycodone and hydrocodone

2013-12-03
Prescription opioid abusers prefer to get high on oxycodone and hydrocodone Researchers investigate factors that influence the choice of abused drugs, reports PAIN® Philadelphia, December 2, 2013 – Prescription opioid abuse has reached epidemic levels in the ...

Rice U. study: It's not easy 'being green'

2013-12-03
Rice U. study: It's not easy 'being green' HOUSTON – (Dec. 2, 2013) – Think you don't recycle enough? You're not alone. However, people's ability to overcome self-doubt plays a critical role in how successfully they act in support of environmental issues, according to a new study ...

Information technologies could remove the 'shroud of secrecy' draped across private health care cost

2013-12-03
Information technologies could remove the 'shroud of secrecy' draped across private health care cost PRINCETON, NJ—The "shroud of secrecy" once draped across private health care service costs could be lifted ...

Kids whose bond with mother was disrupted early in life show changes in brain

2013-12-03
Kids whose bond with mother was disrupted early in life show changes in brain Children who experience profound neglect have been found to be more prone to a behavior known as "indiscriminate friendliness," characterized by an inappropriate willingness ...

UCSB researcher shows microplastic transfers chemicals, impacting health

2013-12-03
UCSB researcher shows microplastic transfers chemicals, impacting health Study demonstrates plastic ingestion delivers pollutants and additives into animal tissue (Santa Barbara, Calif.) — With global production of plastic exceeding 280 metric ...

Bronchial thermoplasty shows long-term effectiveness for asthma

2013-12-03
Bronchial thermoplasty shows long-term effectiveness for asthma Data show improvements maintained for 5 years after procedure DENVER – The beneficial effects of bronchial thermoplasty, a non-pharmacologic treatment for asthma, last at least five years, ...

Integrated pest managment techniques can help manage the Bagrada bug

2013-12-03
Integrated pest managment techniques can help manage the Bagrada bug The Bagrada bug, an invasive stink bug, was discovered in the western hemisphere in 2008 near Los Angeles, CA, presumably introduced via container shipments arriving at the Port of ...

A new weapon in the war against superbugs

2013-12-03
A new weapon in the war against superbugs Tel Aviv University researchers find a protein that viruses use to kill bacteria In the arms race between bacteria and modern medicine, bacteria have gained an edge. In recent decades, bacterial resistance to ...

Energy drinks plus alcohol pose a public health threat

2013-12-03
Energy drinks plus alcohol pose a public health threat ANN ARBOR—Mixing energy drinks with alcohol is riskier than just drinking alcohol alone, according to a new study that examines the impact of a growing trend among young adults. Published in the current issue ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Heat and heavy metals are changing the way that bees buzz

What’s behind the enormous increase in early-onset gastrointestinal cancers?

Pharmacogenomics expert advances precision medicine for bipolar disorder

Brazilian researcher explores centenarian stem cells for aging insights

Dr. Xuyu Qian's breakthrough analysis of 18 million brain cells advances understanding of human brain development

Gene networks decode human brain architecture from health to glioma

How artificial light at night damages brain health and metabolism

For ultrasound, ultra-strength not always a good thing

Matching your workouts to your personality could make exercising more enjoyable and give you better results

Study shows people perceive biodiversity

Personality type can predict which forms of exercise people enjoy

People can accurately judge biodiversity through sight and sound

People diagnosed with dementia are living longer, global study shows

When domesticated rabbits go feral, new morphologies emerge

Rain events could cause major failure of Waikīkī storm drainage by 2050

Breakthrough in upconversion luminescence research: Uncovering the energy back transfer mechanism

Hidden role of 'cell protector' opens cancer treatment possibilities

How plants build the microbiome they need to survive in a tough environment

Depression due to politics and its quiet danger to democracy addressed in new book 'The Sad Citizen'

International experts and patients unite to help ensure all patients are fully informed before consenting to new surgical procedures

Melting glaciers could trigger more explosive eruptions globally, finds research

Nearly half of U.S. grandchildren live within 10 miles of a grandparent

Study demonstrates low-cost method to remove CO₂ from air using cold temperatures, common materials

Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI) welcomes 13 students to prestigious Summer Fellowship program

Mass timber could elevate hospital construction

A nuanced model of soil moisture illuminates plant behavior and climate patterns

$2.6 million NIH grant backs search for genetic cure in deadly heart disease

Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis program changed drastically when anxiety was added as a qualifying condition

1 in 5 overweight adults could be reclassified with obesity according to new framework

Findings of study on how illegally manufactured fentanyl enters U.S. contradict common assumptions, undermining efforts to control supply

[Press-News.org] Treatment plans for brain metastases more accurately determined with aid of molecular imaging trace