Metabolic response as assessed by (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography does not predict outcome in patients with intermediate- or high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group Soft Tissue Sarcoma Committee

Harrison DJ, Chi YY, Tian J, Hingorani P, Mascarenhas L, McCowage GB, Weigel BJ, Venkatramani R, Wolden SL, Yock TI, Rodeberg DA, Hayes-Jordan AA, Teot LA, Spunt SL, Meyer WH, Hawkins DS, Shulkin BL, Parisi MT. Metabolic response as assessed by (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography does not predict outcome in patients with intermediate- or high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group Soft Tissue Sarcoma Committee. Cancer Med. 2021 Feb;10(3):857-866. doi: 10.1002/cam4.3667. Epub 2020 Dec 19. PubMed PMID: 33340280; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7897958.

Strategies to optimize management in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) include risk stratification to assign therapy aiming to minimize treatment morbidity yet improve outcomes. This analysis evaluated the relationship between complete metabolic response (CMR) as assessed by 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography‐computed tomography (FDG‐PET) imaging and event‐free survival (EFS) in intermediate‐risk (IR) and high‐risk (HR) RMS patients. FDG‐PET imaging characteristics, including assessment of CMR and maximum standard uptake values (SUVmax) of the primary tumor, were evaluated by central review. Institutional reports of SUVmax were used when SUVmax values could not be determined by central review. One hundred and thirty IR and 105 HR patients had FDG‐PET scans submitted for central review or had SUVmax data available from institutional report at any time point. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between these parameters and EFS.