NEOadjuvant therapy monitoring with PET and CT in Esophageal Cancer (NEOPEC-trial)

Mark van Heijl, Jikke M. T. Omloo, Mark I. van Berge Henegouwen, Olivier R. C. Busch, Hugo W. Tilanus, Patrick M. M. Bossuyt, Otto S. Hoekstra, Jaap Stoker, Maarten C. C. M. Hulshof, Ate van der Gaast, Grard A. P. Nieuwenhuijzen, Han J. Bonenkamp, John Th M. Plukker, Ernst J. Spillenaar Bilgen, Fibo J. W. ten Kate, Ronald Boellaard, Jan Pruim, Gerrit W. Sloof, J. Jan B. van Lanschot, JT Plukker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Surgical resection is the preferred treatment of potentially curable esophageal cancer. To improve long term patient outcome, many institutes apply neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. In a large proportion of patients no response to chemoradiotherapy is achieved. These patients suffer from toxic and ineffective neoadjuvant treatment, while appropriate surgical therapy is delayed. For this reason a diagnostic test that allows for accurate prediction of tumor response early during chemoradiotherapy is of crucial importance. CT-scan and endoscopic ultrasound have limited accuracy in predicting histopathologic tumor response. Data suggest that metabolic changes in tumor tissue as measured by FDG-PET predict response better. This study aims to compare FDG-PET and CT-scan for the early prediction of non-response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with potentially curable esophageal cancer. Methods/design: Prognostic accuracy study, embedded in a randomized multicenter Dutch trial comparing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for 5 weeks followed by surgery versus surgery alone for esophageal cancer. This prognostic accuracy study is performed only in the neoadjuvant arm of the randomized trial. In 6 centers, 150 consecutive patients will be included over a 3 year period. FDG-PET and CT-scan will be performed before and 2 weeks after the start of the chemoradiotherapy. All patients complete the 5 weeks regimen of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, regardless the test results. Pathological examination of the surgical resection specimen will be used as reference standard. Responders are defined as patients with < 10% viable residual tumor cells (Mandard-score). Difference in accuracy (area under ROC curve) and negative predictive value between FDG-PET and CT-scan are primary endpoints. Furthermore, an economic evaluation will be performed, comparing survival and costs associated with the use of FDG-PET (or CT-scan) to predict tumor response with survival and costs of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy without prediction of response (reference strategy). DISCUSSION: The NEOPEC-trial could be the first sufficiently powered study that helps justify implementation of FDG-PET for response-monitoring in patients with esophageal cancer in clinical practice. Trial registration: ISRCTN45750457
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3
JournalBMC medical physics
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

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