Dynamic 18F-FET PET in suspected WHO grade II gliomas defines distinct biological subgroups with different clinical courses

In suspected grade II gliomas, three distinct patterns of time-activity curves (TAC) on O-(2-[F-18]fluoroethyl)-1-tyrosine (F-18-FET) positron emission tomography (PET) have been delineated (i) increasing TAC homogeneously throughout the tumor, and decreasing TAC, (ii) either homogeneously throughout the tumor or (iii) only focally within otherwise increasing TAC patterns. Increasing TAC was associated with low-grade histology and decreasing TAC with high-grade histology. This prospective study analyzed whether these patterns correlate with distinct biological tumor subtypes and differential outcome. F-18-FET PET-guided biopsies were used for stepwise histopathological evaluation. Molecular-genetic evaluation included O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1/2) mutational and 1p/19q codeletion status. Progression-free survival (PFS) was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were obtained from multivariate regression models. 98 adult patients were included. Homogeneous increasing, focal decreasing and homogeneous decreasing TAC were seen in 51, 19 and 28 patients. The corresponding 1-year (2-years) PFS were 92% (85%), 89% (51%) and 50% (28%; p=0.002). IDH1/2 mutations were more frequent in tumors with homogeneous increasing (90%) and focal decreasing (79%) TAC, but were rare in those exhibiting homogeneous decreasing TAC (25%; p<0.001). Overall, TAC patterns, IDH1/2 mutational and 1p/19q codeletion status were powerful and independent prognostic factors. Dynamic F-18-FET PET might be an important and independent imaging biomarker for patients with suspected WHO grade II gliomas and offers perspectives for stratified diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Tumors with focal decreasing TAC need highly targeted surgical interventions to avoid undergrading and undertreatment. What's New? The prognosis and clinical course of low-grade gliomas (WHO grade II) seem to be unpredictable. A technique called Dynamic O-(2-[F-18]fluoroethyl)-1-tyrosine (F-18-FET) positron emission tomography (PET) has identified three distinct time-activity curve (TAC) patterns among these tumors. In this study, the authors found that each of these TAC patterns is associated with a different prognosis. TAC analysis might, therefore, be useful as an independent imaging biomarker, offering the prospect of personalized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for grade II gliomas.