Dual PET imaging in bronchial neuroendocrine neoplasms: The NETPET score as a prognostic biomarker Journal Article


Authors: Chan, D. L.; Ulaner, G. A.; Pattison, D.; Wyld, D.; Ladwa, R.; Kirchner, J.; Li, B. T.; Lai, W. V.; Pavlakis, N.; Roach, P. J.; Bailey, D. L.
Article Title: Dual PET imaging in bronchial neuroendocrine neoplasms: The NETPET score as a prognostic biomarker
Abstract: PET scans using 18F-FDG and somatostatin receptor imaging agents are both used in imaging of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). We have suggested the "NETPET score," using uptake of both PET tracers, as a prognostic biomarker in NENs. The name NETPET score was suggested previously to capture the score's intent to summarize information from dual PET imaging in neuroendocrine tumors. We previously demonstrated the effectiveness of the NETPET score in gastroenteropancreatic NENs (GEPNENs). Its prognostic relevance in bronchial NENs remains undetermined. Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter study (2011-2018) assessing patients who had advanced bronchial NEN and who underwent both 18F-FDG and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET within 60 d of each other. The NETPET score was assigned by experienced nuclear medicine physicians and compared with other clinical data such as World Health Organization grade. The primary outcome was overall survival; NETPET score and other prognostic variables were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses by the Cox proportional-hazards model. Results: Thirty-eight patients were included for review. The NETPET score and histology were significantly correlated with overall survival in univariate analyses (P = 0.003, P = 0.01). On multivariate analysis, only the NETPET score remained significant (P = 0.03). The NETPET score was significantly associated with histologic grade (P = 0.006, χ2 test). Conclusion: The NETPET score is a prognostic biomarker in bronchial NENs as well as GEPNENs. Although it needs to be validated in prospective studies, it holds significant promise as a biomarker for a wide range of NENs. © 2021 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.
Keywords: neuroendocrine tumor; biomarker; fdg pet; dotatate pet; netpet
Journal Title: Journal of Nuclear Medicine
Volume: 62
Issue: 9
ISSN: 0161-5505
Publisher: Society of Nuclear Medicine  
Date Published: 2021-09-01
Start Page: 1278
End Page: 1284
Language: English
DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.120.257659
PUBMED: 33579809
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC8882901
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 November 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Gary Ulaner
    147 Ulaner
  2. Bob Tingkan Li
    278 Li
  3. Wei-Chu Victoria Lai
    59 Lai