FDG-PET is prognostic and predictive for progression-free survival in relapsed follicular lymphoma: exploratory analysis of the GAUSS study

Abstract

An exploratory analysis of 75 follicular lymphoma patients treated with obinutuzumab or rituximab induction therapy (IT) for 4 weeks in the phase II GAUSS study aimed to determine whether positron emission tomography (PET) results could predict progression-free survival (PFS) and tumor response. The proportion of patients with a PFS event (progression or death) was higher in those who were PET-positive after IT (assessed using Deauville five-point scale criteria; 35/52, 67%) than PET-negative (5/20, 25%); the hazard ratio for progression or death was 0.25 (95%CI: 0.01–0.64; p = 0.0018). A significant association was also found when PET results were assessed using International Harmonization Project and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer criteria. Change between baseline and end of IT in values of standardized uptake value and other PET parameters were associated with PFS and response. Validation of these results in prospective studies of larger cohorts is warranted.

Keywords:

• FDG PET/CT
• follicular lymphoma
• prediction of response
• relapse

Acknowledgements

This study was sponsored by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. The authors would like to thank the patients and their families, and the study investigators, study co-ordinators, and nurses for the GAUSS study. They would also like to thank Annette Schmid and Bryan Wayne at Perceptive Informatics for their technical support with this analysis. Editorial support under the direction of the lead author was provided by Cheryl Wright, PhD of Gardiner-Caldwell Communications (Macclesfield, UK) and funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Potential conflict of interest

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10428194.2016.1196815.