Advantages and limitations of amino acid PET for tracking therapy response in glioma patients

Karl-Josef Langen*, Alexander Heinzel, Philipp Lohmann, Felix M. Mottaghy, Norbert Galldiks

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

Introduction: Today, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the standard method for monitoring patients with brain tumors. The ability of conventional MRI in differentiating neoplastic tissue from nonspecific, treatment-related changes after surgery, radio-, chemo- or immunotherapy, however, remains limited. Therefore, advanced MRI sequences and positron emission tomography (PET) are increasingly being considered to improve decision-making. Areas covered: PET using radiolabeled amino acids has evolved into an important diagnostic tool to overcome some of the shortcomings of conventional MRI. In view of the rapidly developing novel treatment strategies, a reliable statement on the response to therapy is becoming increasingly important. This article gives an overview of the current results of PET with radiolabelled amino acids in therapy monitoring of standard therapy as well as various innovative approaches in the treatment of patients with cerebral gliomas. Expert opinion: Amino acid PET has proven to be helpful in therapy monitoring of gliomas, the costs are low in relation to the costs of therapy and the clinical benefit, and a widespread clinical use is highly desirable.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)137-146
Number of pages10
JournalExpert Review of Neurotherapeutics
Volume20
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2020

Keywords

  • Cerebral glioma
  • PET
  • radiolabeled amino acids
  • treatment monitoring
  • POSITRON-EMISSION-TOMOGRAPHY
  • RECURRENT MALIGNANT GLIOMA
  • HIGH-GRADE GLIOMAS
  • O-(2-F-18-FLUOROETHYL)-L-TYROSINE PET
  • TEMOZOLOMIDE CHEMOTHERAPY
  • EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION
  • F-DOPA
  • BRAIN
  • BEVACIZUMAB
  • TUMOR

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