文摘
Objectives To determine whether CT can depict early perfusion changes in lung cancer treated by anti-angiogenic drugs, allowing prediction of response. Methods Patients with non-small cell lung cancer, treated by conventional chemotherapy with (Group 1; n--7) or without (Group 2; n--3) anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drug (bevacizumab) underwent CT perfusion before (TIME-) and after 1 (TIME-), 3 (TIME-) and 6 (TIME-) cycles of chemotherapy. The CT parameters evaluated included: (1) total tumour vascular volume (TVV) and total tumour extravascular flow (TEF); (2) RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours) measurements. Tumour response was also assessed on the basis of the clinicians-overall evaluation. Results In Group 1, significant reduction in perfusion was identified between baseline and: (1) TIME- (TVV, P--.0395; TEF, P--.015); (2) TIME- (TVV, P--.0043; TEF, P-lt;-.0001); (3) TIME- (TVV, P--.0034; TEF, P--.0005) without any significant change in Group 2. In Group 1: (1) the reduction in TVV at TIME- was significantly higher in responders versus non-responders at TIME- according to RECIST (P--.0128) and overall clinicians-evaluation (P--.0079); (2) all responders at TIME- had a concurrent decrease in TVV and TEF at TIME-. Conclusion Perfusion CT demonstrates early changes in lung cancer vascularity under anti-angiogenic chemotherapy that may help predict therapeutic response. Key Points -Perfusion CT has the potential of providing in vivo information about tumour vasculature. -CT depicts early and specific perfusion changes in NSCLC under anti-angiogenic drugs. -Specific therapeutic effects of anti-angiogenic drugs can be detected before tumour shrinkage. -Early perfusion changes can help predict therapeutic response to anti-angiogenic treatment. -Perfusion CT could be a non-invasive tool to monitor anti-angiogenic treatment.