Role of PET CT in Determining Target Volumes in Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer

Radiation therapy is an important component in the curative treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Targeting of the gross tumor has been facilitated by the use of CT simulation allowing for more accurate delineation of the tumor. In addition multi-modality imaging combining functional and anatomical information have allowed for further refinement in the treatment planning process with significant impact on the planning target volume due to the addition of PET imaging information. PET using 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) allows for more precise detection of tumor since it is a functional image based on glucose metabolism rather than structural abnormalities. Biochemical changes often precede any gross anatomical abnormalities, therefore making PET a very powerful imaging modality. FDG PET has been shown to be more sensitive and specific than CT in the staging of NSCLC.Radical radiation therapy is indicated for early stage NSCLC when the patient is medically inoperable primarily due to co-morbidities. In contrast for locally advanced NSCLC, radical radiation is used as part of induction therapy or in the definitive treatment of NSCLC. In order to avoid a geographical miss with precision radiation therapy, the gross tumor volume (GTV) is outlined and a margin around the GTV is added to incorporate microscopic extension of disease, also known as the clinical target volume (CTV). Standard margins of 1.0 to 1.5 cm are used to encompass the gross tumor, microscopic extent and treatment setup uncertainties.There is surprisingly very little data on what constitutes an adequate margin to encompass the microscopic extent around the gross lung tumor. Studies involving conformal radiation therapy and dose escalation in NSCLC have primarily used an empirical margin to define the CTV. A literature review revealed only two studies evaluating the ability of CT to define the gross tumor and its microscopic extension correlated with histopathological measurements [P Giraud et al 2000, R Chan et al 2001]. The two studies have produced conflicting results with recommended margins being from zero mm to 6-8 mm around the GTV. There have been no studies evaluating the ability of PET to define the size of the gross tumor and its microscopic extension.This is a companion study to the two OCOG PET trials in NSCLC. It will evaluate the ability of CT alone versus PET CT to define the gross tumor and its microscopic extension. The methodology will be based on contouring the GTV with imaging modalities of CT and PET CT and correlating the findings with histopathology.This proposed study will add new information on the ability of combined PET CT to determine the microscopic extension of tumor in NSCLC. While no imaging modality can detect microscopic extension, the newer technology of PET CT may give better resolution over CT alone in the detection of tumor. The strength of this proposal is the required correlation with pathological findings. If PET CT is able to accurately determine the extent of disease, this will have major implications on treatment volumes and subsequent targeting for radiation therapy using 3D conformal radiation therapy.