FAPI-PET/CT guided radiotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer

Abstract Background Cancer associated fibroblasts have become a target of interest in different malignancies for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, using positron emitter labelled fibroblast activation protein inhibitors (FAPI). New data underline the advanced imaging properties of FAPI-PET...

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Main Authors: Kai Kröger, Niklas Benedikt Pepper, David Ventura, Fabian M. Troschel, Philipp Backhaus, Kambiz Rahbar, Bernhard Glasbrenner, Matthias Brüwer, Andreas Pascher, Michael Schäfers, Hans Theodor Eich, Wolfgang Roll
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:Radiation Oncology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13014-025-02606-x
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author Kai Kröger
Niklas Benedikt Pepper
David Ventura
Fabian M. Troschel
Philipp Backhaus
Kambiz Rahbar
Bernhard Glasbrenner
Matthias Brüwer
Andreas Pascher
Michael Schäfers
Hans Theodor Eich
Wolfgang Roll
author_facet Kai Kröger
Niklas Benedikt Pepper
David Ventura
Fabian M. Troschel
Philipp Backhaus
Kambiz Rahbar
Bernhard Glasbrenner
Matthias Brüwer
Andreas Pascher
Michael Schäfers
Hans Theodor Eich
Wolfgang Roll
author_sort Kai Kröger
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Cancer associated fibroblasts have become a target of interest in different malignancies for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, using positron emitter labelled fibroblast activation protein inhibitors (FAPI). New data underline the advanced imaging properties of FAPI-PET/CT for the staging of esophageal cancer compared to standard imaging. Potential benefits of FAPI-PET/CT in radiation therapy planning are the subject of this investigation. Methods Ten patients with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer treated with radiochemotherapy (RCT) were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent [68Ga]OncoFAP-PET/CT in treatment position to facilitate radiation treatment planning. Six patients received neoadjuvant RCT as part of a trimodal therapy and four patients underwent definitive RCT. In five cases, restaging after initial treatment was performed with FAPI-PET/CT. Results [68Ga]OncoFAP-PET/CT based imaging showed a high correlation with the endoscopic staging for initial imaging. In three cases, new sites of disease were unmasked, not visible in CT- and endosonographic staging. [68Ga]OncoFAP-PET/CT based RT delineation offered good definition of clinical target volumes, especially in retro-/paracardial areas and the gastroesophageal junction. Conclusion [68Ga]OncoFAP-PET/CT may aid and improve radiation treatment planning for patients with esophageal cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-8d9d48e33e684cdd8b4695b3dd8d07812025-08-20T02:54:36ZengBMCRadiation Oncology1748-717X2025-02-012011910.1186/s13014-025-02606-xFAPI-PET/CT guided radiotherapy for patients with esophageal cancerKai Kröger0Niklas Benedikt Pepper1David Ventura2Fabian M. Troschel3Philipp Backhaus4Kambiz Rahbar5Bernhard Glasbrenner6Matthias Brüwer7Andreas Pascher8Michael Schäfers9Hans Theodor Eich10Wolfgang Roll11Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital MuensterDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital MuensterDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital MuensterDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital MuensterDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital MuensterDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital MuensterDepartment of Medicine B, Gastroenterology, St. Franziskus-Hospital MuensterDepartment of General and Visceral Surgery, Gastroenterology, St. Franziskus-Hospital MuensterDepartment of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital MuensterDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital MuensterDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital MuensterDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital MuensterAbstract Background Cancer associated fibroblasts have become a target of interest in different malignancies for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, using positron emitter labelled fibroblast activation protein inhibitors (FAPI). New data underline the advanced imaging properties of FAPI-PET/CT for the staging of esophageal cancer compared to standard imaging. Potential benefits of FAPI-PET/CT in radiation therapy planning are the subject of this investigation. Methods Ten patients with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer treated with radiochemotherapy (RCT) were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent [68Ga]OncoFAP-PET/CT in treatment position to facilitate radiation treatment planning. Six patients received neoadjuvant RCT as part of a trimodal therapy and four patients underwent definitive RCT. In five cases, restaging after initial treatment was performed with FAPI-PET/CT. Results [68Ga]OncoFAP-PET/CT based imaging showed a high correlation with the endoscopic staging for initial imaging. In three cases, new sites of disease were unmasked, not visible in CT- and endosonographic staging. [68Ga]OncoFAP-PET/CT based RT delineation offered good definition of clinical target volumes, especially in retro-/paracardial areas and the gastroesophageal junction. Conclusion [68Ga]OncoFAP-PET/CT may aid and improve radiation treatment planning for patients with esophageal cancer.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13014-025-02606-xFAPIEsophageal cancerPETRadiotherapy
spellingShingle Kai Kröger
Niklas Benedikt Pepper
David Ventura
Fabian M. Troschel
Philipp Backhaus
Kambiz Rahbar
Bernhard Glasbrenner
Matthias Brüwer
Andreas Pascher
Michael Schäfers
Hans Theodor Eich
Wolfgang Roll
FAPI-PET/CT guided radiotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer
Radiation Oncology
FAPI
Esophageal cancer
PET
Radiotherapy
title FAPI-PET/CT guided radiotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer
title_full FAPI-PET/CT guided radiotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer
title_fullStr FAPI-PET/CT guided radiotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer
title_full_unstemmed FAPI-PET/CT guided radiotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer
title_short FAPI-PET/CT guided radiotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer
title_sort fapi pet ct guided radiotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer
topic FAPI
Esophageal cancer
PET
Radiotherapy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13014-025-02606-x
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