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World J Respirol. Nov 28, 2013; 3(3): 104-109
Published online Nov 28, 2013. doi: 10.5320/wjr.v3.i3.104
FDG-PET for predicting efficacy of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors in lung cancer
Noriaki Sunaga, Kyoichi Kaira, Takeshi Hisada, Masanobu Yamada
Noriaki Sunaga, Kyoichi Kaira, Takeshi Hisada, Masanobu Yamada, Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
Author contributions: Sunaga N contributed to conception and design, acquisition of data and analysis; Sunaga N, Kaira K, Hisada T and Yamada M contributed to interpretation of data.
Supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, No. #23591134
Correspondence to: Noriaki Sunaga, MD, Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduat School of Medicine, 3-39-15, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan. nsunaga@gunma-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-27-2208136 Fax: +81-27-2208136
Received: June 26, 2013
Revised: July 12, 2013
Accepted: July 17, 2013
Published online: November 28, 2013
Processing time: 159 Days and 20.7 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Molecularly targeted drugs including epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), which usually exhibit cytostatic antitumor activity, have emerged for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. The Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors is generally used to assess the therapeutic response based on the morphological changes in tumor size as evaluated by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. However, such assessment may not always reflect the clinical outcome of cytostatic drugs, such as EGFR-TKIs. In this regard, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose measured by positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is potentially beneficial. Here we summarize the role of FDG-PET to predict the treatment efficacy in NSCLC treated with EGFR-TKIs.