美发现PET可以用于预测乳腺癌化疗反应

 
 
科学家最近报道，对晚期乳腺癌化疗的效率能够通过使用正电子发射体层成像（PET）来进行早期评估，而不是使用使用其它当前使用的影像学检查方法。

在治疗基线期和治疗进行PET扫描，能够“在第一疗程化疗的早期即可预测治疗反应”，Norbert Avril医生如此评论说，他是美国匹兹堡大学医学中心核医学主任。

根据Arvil医生的说法，传统的影像学检查技术，例如计算机断层扫描（CT）、核磁共振（MRI）、平面薄膜放射学检查、以及超声波检查，都不能够在治疗早期精确预测治疗反应。化疗通常用于延长生存时间和改善生活治疗。他说在治疗早期鉴别出那些对化疗无反应的患者十分必要，因为可以“避免无效治疗以及无必要的副作用“。

Arvil医生在这项研究中报道说，个体化治疗能够为患者和医生提供以前所无法提供的选择。这项研究发表在2005年7月期的《核医学期刊》之上。
 
Assessing Therapy in Advanced Breast Cancer
 
Scientists recently reported that the effectiveness of chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer can be assessed earlier by utilizing positron emission tomography (PET) scanning rather than other current imaging modalities.

PET scanning performed at baseline and after treatment is initiated “allowed prediction of response as early as after the first cycle of chemotherapy,” said Dr. Norbert Avril, chief of nuclear medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (PA, USA).

Traditional imaging techniques, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), plain film radiography, and ultrasound, do not accurately predict therapy response early in the course of treatment, according to Dr. Arvil. Chemotherapy is usually used to improve survival and quality of life. He said it is necessary to identify early those individuals who do not respond to chemotherapy “to avoid ineffective therapies and unnecessary side effects.”

Dr. Arvil reported in the study that the ability to customize treatment provides patients and clinicians with options not previously available. The study was published in the July 2005 issue of Journal of Nuclear Medicine.