Use of early 18f-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography to predict clinical outcome of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer on gefitinib treatment versus carboplatin plus paclitaxel.

10577 Background: Early prediction of clinical efficacy is of great value in cancer patients in avoiding unnecessary toxicities and giving them another chance for different treatments. This study aimed to assess the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) at 3 days on treatment as an early predictor of clinical outcome in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with gefitinib and in those treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Methods: This study comprised two groups: patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC were treated with gefitinib (250mg) once daily (gefitinib group) or with carboplatin (AUC 6, day 1) plus paclitaxel (200mg/m2, day 1) q21 days (CP group) according to the physicians’ choice. FDG-PET was performed before, 3 days on and 28 days on each treatment. Reduction of tumor FDG uptake was assessed by using standardized uptake value (SUV). Metabolic response was defined as reduction of FDG uptake in the tumor ≥ 25% according to the criteria of the Europea...