Head-to-Head Comparison of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46-PET/CT and [18F]F-FDG-PET/CT for Radiotherapy Planning in Head and Neck Cancer

Introduction In head and neck cancers (HNCs), fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is expressed by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment. Preliminary evidence suggests that detection and staging is feasible with positron emission tomography (PET/CT) imaging using [(68) Ga]-radiolabeled inhibitors of FAP ([(68) Ga]Ga-FAPI-46) in HNCs. This study aims to compare [(68) Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT and [F-18]-fluorodeoxy-d-glucose ([F-18]F-FDG) PET/CT with a focus on improved target volume definition and radiotherapy planning in patients with HNC referred for chemoradiation. Methods A total of 15 patients with HNCs received both [(68) Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT and [F-18]F-FDG PET/CT with a thermoplastic mask, in addition to initial tumor staging by conventional imaging with contrast-enhanced CT and/or MRI. Mean intervals between FAPI/FDG and FAPI/conventional imaging were 4 +/- 20 and 17 +/- 18 days, respectively. Location and number of suspicious lesions revealed by the different procedures were recorded. Subsequently, expert-generated gross tumor volumes (GTVs) based on conventional imaging were compared to those based on [F-18]F-FDG and [(68) Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT to measure the impact on subsequent radiation planning. Results All patients had focal FAPI uptake above background in tumor lesions. Compared to FDG, tumor uptake (median SUVmax 10.2 vs. 7.3, p = 0.008) and tumor-to-background ratios were significantly higher with FAPI than with FDG (SUVmean liver: 9.3 vs. 3.2, p < 0.001; SUVmean bloodpool: 6.9 vs. 4.0, p < 0.001). A total of 49 lesions were recorded. Of these, 40 (82%) were FDG(+) and 41 (84%) were FAP(+). There were 5 (10%) FAP(+)/FDG(-) lesions and 4 (8%) FAP(-)/FDG(+) lesions. Volumetrically, a significant difference was found between the GTVs (median 57.9 ml in the FAPI-GTV, 42.5 ml in the FDG-GTV, compared to 39.2 ml in the conventional-GTV). Disease stage identified by FAPI PET/CT was mostly concordant with FDG PET/CT. Compared to conventional imaging, five patients (33%) were upstaged following imaging with FAPI and FDG PET/CT. Conclusion We demonstrate that [(68) Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 -PET/CT is useful for detecting tumor lesions in patients with HNCs. There is now a need for prospective randomized studies to confirm the role of [(68) Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT in relation to [F-18]F-FDG PET/CT in HNCs and to evaluate its impact on clinical outcome.

Automated summary

This study compares the use of [(68) Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT and [F-18]F-FDG PET/CT in improving target volume definition and radiotherapy planning for head and neck cancers. The results demonstrate the usefulness of [(68) Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT in detecting tumor lesions in these patients.