(68)Ga-FAPI-PET/CT improves diagnostic staging and radiotherapy planning of Adenoid Cystic Carcinomas - imaging analysis and histological validation

Science and Research

BACKGROUND: Adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACCs) are rare epithelial tumors mostly situated in the head and neck region and characterized by infiltrative growth. The tumor stroma of ACCs includes cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) expressing Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP), a new target for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Here we describe the value of PET/ computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging using (68)Ga-labelled FAP-Inhibitors ((68)Ga-FAPI-PET/CT) and their clinical potential for staging and radiotherapy planning in 12 ACC patients (7 primary, 5 recurrent). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients underwent contrast enhanced staging CT (ceCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (ceMRI) before (68)Ga-FAPI - PET/CT. PET-scans were acquired 10, 60 and 180 minutes after administration of 150-250 MBq of (68)Ga-labelled FAPI tracers. SUV(max) and SUV(mean) values of ACCs and healthy organs were obtained using a 60% of maximum iso-contour. FAP and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) immunohistochemistry was performed in 13 cases (3 with and 10 without (68)Ga FAPI-PET/CT). Staging and radiotherapy planning based on (68)Ga-FAPI-PET/CT versus ceCT/MRI alone were compared. RESULTS: We observed elevated tracer uptake in all ACCs. Immunohistochemistry showed FAP-expressing CAFs in the tumor. Compared to conventional staging, (68)Ga-FAPI-PET/CT led to upstaging in 2/12 patients and to detection of additional metastases in 3 patients, thus in total 42% of patients had their staging altered. Moreover, (68)Ga-FAPI PET improved the accuracy of target volume delineation for radiotherapy, as compared to CT and MRI. CONCLUSION: (68)Ga-FAPI-PET/CT is a promising imaging modality for ACC, increasing the accuracy of staging exams and radiotherapy planning volumes, as compared conventional to CT and MRI.