Background: Tumor-specific molecular imaging in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is not well established. Somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) are found in solid tumors, including HNSCC. 68 Ga-DOTATATE, a commercially available radionuclide that binds SSTRs, may have utility in imaging HNSCC.
Methods: Patients with HNSCC received pretreatment imaging with 18 F-FDG-PET/CT and 68 Ga-DOTATATE. Imaging was compared for concordance. When available, surgical resection specimens were compared to pretreatment imaging findings. Historic HNSCC tumor specimens were assessed for both SSTR and p16/human papilloma virus (HPV) expression.
Results: Twenty patients were imaged. Fifteen had oropharyngeal cancer. Primary tumor site was concordant between imaging modalities for all patients. One of 45 lymph nodes was discordant. Retrospective specimen review showed a significant correlation with SSTR expression and HPV/p16 expression. No adverse events occurred.
Conclusions: 68 Ga-DOTATATE imaging is safe and effective in HNSCC. SSTR expression may be increased in HPV-mediated tumors. Targeted therapies to SSTR should be explored.
Keywords: head and neck cancer; human papilloma virus; molecular imaging; radiotheranostics; somatostatin receptor.
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