Imaging techniques for treatment evaluation for metastatic breast cancer

Gold LS, Lee CI, Devine B, Nelson H, Chou R, Ramsey S, Sullivan SD
Record ID 32014001107
English
Authors' objectives: The purpose of this technical brief is to understand current utilization of metastatic breast imaging modalities for treatment evaluation in the United States, both in order to summarize the current state of the science and to inform future research on this topic.
Authors' recommendations: Literature pertaining to imaging evaluation of treatment response among metastatic breast cancer patients was limited. An important potential advantage of FDG-PET/CT over conventional imaging for assessing tumor response among metastatic breast cancer patients is that it provides functional information regarding tumor metabolism in addition to information on gross morphologic changes. While some early evidence suggests that the metabolic response assessed by FDG-PET/CT after initial cycles of chemotherapy may be predictive of response to treatment among metastatic breast cancer patients, more rigorous research is needed before definitive conclusions can be reached. Future research efforts should focus on identifying novel radiotracers and biomarkers that may clarify breast tumor biology, addressing the lack of information on patient-centered outcomes (e.g., patient preferences) related to imaging, better delineating clinical outcomes associated with treatment response identified by imaging (e.g., progression-free and overall survival), and determining the costs associated with frequent imaging for treatment response.
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2014
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: United States
MeSH Terms
  • Humans
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Diagnostic Imaging
Contact
Organisation Name: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Contact Address: Center for Outcomes and Evidence Technology Assessment Program, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. Tel: +1 301 427 1610; Fax: +1 301 427 1639;
Contact Name: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov
Contact Email: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov
Copyright: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.