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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

Somatostatin receptor expression in Merkel cell carcinoma as target for molecular imaging

Authors: Kristina Buder, Constantin Lapa, Michael C Kreissl, Andreas Schirbel, Ken Herrmann, Alexander Schnack, Eva-Bettina Bröcker, Matthias Goebeler, Andreas K Buck, Jürgen C Becker

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous neoplasm with increasing incidence, aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. Somatostatin receptors (SSTR) are expressed in MCC and represent a potential target for both imaging and treatment.

Methods

To non-invasively assess SSTR expression in MCC using PET and the radiotracers [68Ga]DOTA-D-Phe1-Tyr3-octreotide (DOTATOC) or -octreotate (DOTATATE) as surrogate for tumor burden. In 24 patients with histologically proven MCC SSTR-PET was performed and compared to results of computed tomography (CT).

Results

SSTR-PET detected primary and metastatic MCC lesions. On a patient-based analysis, sensitivity of SSTR-PET was 73% for nodal metastases, 100% for bone, and 67% for soft-tissue metastases, respectively. Notably, brain metastases were initially detected by SSTR-PET in 2 patients, whereas liver and lung metastases were diagnosed exclusively by CT. SSTR-PET showed concordance to CT results in 20 out of 24 patients. Four patients (17%) were up-staged due to SSTR-PET and patient management was changed in 3 patients (13%).

Conclusion

SSTR-PET showed high sensitivity for imaging bone, soft tissue and brain metastases, and particularly in combination with CT had a significant impact on clinical stage and patient management.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Somatostatin receptor expression in Merkel cell carcinoma as target for molecular imaging
Authors
Kristina Buder
Constantin Lapa
Michael C Kreissl
Andreas Schirbel
Ken Herrmann
Alexander Schnack
Eva-Bettina Bröcker
Matthias Goebeler
Andreas K Buck
Jürgen C Becker
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-14-268

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