TY - JOUR
T1 - Perfusion computed tomography in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with thalidomide
T2 - Initial experience
AU - Petralia, Giuseppe
AU - Fazio, Nicola
AU - Bonello, Luke
AU - D'Andrea, Gabriele
AU - Radice, Davide
AU - Bellomi, Massimo
PY - 2011/3
Y1 - 2011/3
N2 - OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the role of perfusion computed tomography (CT) for monitoring and predicting therapy response in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with thalidomide. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with thalidomide. Perfusion and conventional CT were performed at baseline and every 2 months until disease progression. Baseline tumor size and enhancement characteristics, as well as baseline perfusion parameters and their changes after therapy, were explored and tested for association with therapy response. RESULTS: Perfusion CT was feasible in 18 patients. Baseline tumor size and enhancement characteristics showed no predictive value, whereas baseline blood flow and blood volume were higher in patients with progressive disease (P <0.042), with cutoff values for blood flow (16.7 mL/100 g per minute) and blood volume (1.84 mL/100 g) predicting progressive disease in 83.3% and 77.8% of patients, respectively. Significant changes were observed after 2, 4, and 6 months in blood flow (P <0.031), blood volume after 4 months (P = 0.018), and mean transit time after 4 and 6 months (P = 0.030) in patients with stable disease at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline blood flow and blood volume predicted response to therapy in our cohort.
AB - OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the role of perfusion computed tomography (CT) for monitoring and predicting therapy response in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with thalidomide. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with thalidomide. Perfusion and conventional CT were performed at baseline and every 2 months until disease progression. Baseline tumor size and enhancement characteristics, as well as baseline perfusion parameters and their changes after therapy, were explored and tested for association with therapy response. RESULTS: Perfusion CT was feasible in 18 patients. Baseline tumor size and enhancement characteristics showed no predictive value, whereas baseline blood flow and blood volume were higher in patients with progressive disease (P <0.042), with cutoff values for blood flow (16.7 mL/100 g per minute) and blood volume (1.84 mL/100 g) predicting progressive disease in 83.3% and 77.8% of patients, respectively. Significant changes were observed after 2, 4, and 6 months in blood flow (P <0.031), blood volume after 4 months (P = 0.018), and mean transit time after 4 and 6 months (P = 0.030) in patients with stable disease at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline blood flow and blood volume predicted response to therapy in our cohort.
KW - hepatocellular carcinoma
KW - perfusion computed tomography
KW - predicting response to therapy
KW - thalidomide
KW - therapy monitoring
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U2 - 10.1097/RCT.0b013e31820ccf51
DO - 10.1097/RCT.0b013e31820ccf51
M3 - Article
C2 - 21412089
AN - SCOPUS:79953829674
VL - 35
SP - 195
EP - 201
JO - Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography
JF - Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography
SN - 0363-8715
IS - 2
ER -