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My question deals with what we can learn from PET scans. Let me explain first that I am in a clinical trial with two immunotherapy drugs.
Can a PET scan differentiate between inflammation caused by the drugs attacking the cancer and progression or growth of the cancer? In other words, how effective are these scans after 4 infusions?
Louise Picco-Branney
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Reply # - August 20, 2016, 01:54 PM
Hi Louise!
Hi Louise!
I hope you're feeling alright on the 2 drugs. Unfortunately a the SUV from a PET scan doesn't differentiate between inflammation and tumor growth. "PET scan results are reported in “SUV” units, in which SUV stands for “standardized uptake value”. The SUV is just a measure that indicates how bright the tissue is on the scan; that is, how much cellular activity is occurring in that area. This activity can represent various things, from inflammation to infection to cancer. There is no threshold SUV number that distinguishes cancer from inflammation or infection, but higher numbers (especially in the high single digits or more) are most suggestive of cancer." http://cancergrace.org/cancer-101/2010/09/14/cancer-101-faq-primer-on-p…
PET scans are usually given during the staging process. Some oncologist use them to follow patients though at this time most just consider it to be a huge cost without giving any helpful information (or even giving too much info that causes too early changes in treatment). I'd be interested in knowing if your trial is following you with PET and if so why.
Good to see you,
Janine
Reply # - August 20, 2016, 02:19 PM
Janine, Once again thank you
Janine, Once again thank you for your quick response to my inquires. I am feeling great with very few if any side effects to the immunotherapy drugs Medi4736 and Tremi I will receive my fourth infusion this coming Wednesday and also the results from the CT scans that will be taken on Monday the 22nd of August.
The meeting with my onc on Wednesday before that infusion will be to determine if we should continue in the Mystic trial. I am hopeful that the CT will show positive results and was trying to be proactive on whether to request a PET to further the determination. By your answer, that would not tell us anything more than the CT.
Thank you again for this wonderful website.
Louise
Reply # - August 21, 2016, 01:47 PM
Louise,
Louise,
Feeling great and having no symptoms is an excellent reason to believe your CT will show positive results. I always cringe a little (as someone without experience or education on the subject) to think about being treated with 2 anti cancer drugs since one can often be such a challenge. So I'm happy to read your experience has been uneventful! I look forward to hearing from you later next week.
Fingers and toes crossed,
Janine