CT perfusion gauges sarcoma treatment response

Sunday, November 28 | 11:25 a.m.-11:35 a.m. | SSA13-05 | Room E451B

In this scientific presentation, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston will discuss their successful use of CT perfusion imaging to monitor the response to sarcoma treatment. Both tumor size and density differences were visible after antiangiogenic therapy for soft-tissue sarcomas.

Avinash Kambadakone, MD, and his team scanned 22 patients with soft-tissue sarcomas using both standard and perfusion CT at baseline and after 10 days of treatment with the antiangiogenic bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA) -- and again six weeks later after treatment with the antiangiogenic drug plus radiation therapy.

Two readers blinded to results measured tumor density and size. Ten days post-therapy they found significant changes in perfusion CT parameters (-17% to 30%) as well as tumor density (mean 16%). The differences were even more substantial following completion of the drug treatment plus radiation therapy. CT perfusion was a "robust surrogate" for monitoring early treatment response to antiangiogenic therapy, they said.