Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology 32:140-145 (2002)
© 2002 Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research
Prediction of Chemotherapy Response in Untreated Malignant Lymphomas Using Technetium-99m Methoxyisobutylisonitrile Scan: Comparison with P-glycoprotein Expression and Other Prognostic Factors. A Preliminary Report
Departments of 1 Radiation Therapy and Oncology and 4 Medical Research, China Medical College Hospital, Taichung, 2 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei and 3 Department of Radiation Therapy and Oncology, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Background: The purpose of this study was to predict chemotherapy response in untreated malignant lymphomas using technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-MIBI) scan.
Methods: Twenty-five patients with malignant lymphoma were studied before receiving chemotherapy. Early Tc-MIBI scan was performed 10 min after intravenous injection of Tc-MIBI. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed on multiple non-consecutive sections of the biopsy specimens to determine Pgp expression. Chemotherapy response was evaluated in the first 1–2 years after completion of treatment by clinical and radiological methods.
Results: The mean tumor-to-background ratio of the 15 patients with good response (3.3 ± 0.6) was significantly higher than that of the 10 patients with poor response (1.2 ± 0.1). Among the 15 patients with good response to chemotherapy, all had positive Tc-MIBI scan results but negative Pgp expression. Among the 10 patients who had poor response to chemotherapy, all 10 had negative Tc-MIBI scan, but six patients had positive Pgp expression and four had negative Pgp expression. Significant differences were found in the incidences of good and poor responses determined by Tc-MIBI scan and Pgp expression. However, there were no significant differences in the incidences of good and poor responses for other prognostic factors.
Conclusion: Compared with other prognostic factors, early Tc-MIBI scan more accurately predicts chemotherapy response in patients with malignant lymphoma.
+ For reprints and all correspondence: Albert Kao, Department of Medical Research, China Medical College Hospital, 2 Yuh-Der Road, Taichung 404, Taiwan. E-mail: albertkaotw@yahoo.com.tw