18FDG-PET of advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing palliative radiotherapy: prediction of overall survival and correlation with serum cytokine profiles

Tumour imaging using 18FDG-PET provide quantitative information that may be employed for radiotherapy planning, adaptive treatment and as a predictor of survival.  In addition to the established parameter SUVmax, MTV (metabolic tumour volume) and TLG (total lesion glycolysis) are emerging as possible markers of tumour burden. In this talk, we will present preliminary results from the ongoing Thorat study, where a subgroup of the patients have undergone PET imaging prior to, during and after radiotherapy. We have investigated the predictive values of SUVmax, MTV and TLG and whether these parameters correlate with serum cytokine profiles.