Purpose: In this prospective study, PET findings of 18 F-FDG PET/CT in breast cancer staging were compared with 68 Ga-FAP inhibitor (FAPI) 04 PET/CT findings in selected cases with relatively low 18 F-FDG uptake in the primary tumor or with suspected nodal or distant metastases.
Patients and methods: Twenty-four women with a median age of 45 years (range, 36-67 years) who underwent initial staging 18 F-FDG PET/CT for breast cancer underwent 68 Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging within the same week. SUV max and quantities of primary tumors and locoregional and distant metastatic lesions were recorded from both images, and these data were compared statistically.
Results: The histological subtypes of primary tumors were 11 invasive lobular, 8 invasive ductal, and 5 mucinous subtypes. More intense 68 Ga-FAPI-04 uptake (mean, 17.1 ± 7.9; 7.4-38.5) was detected in all primary tumoral lesions compared with 18 F-FDG (mean, 6.3 ± 3.9; 1.5-20.5) ( P = <0.001, Z = 4.107). Additional lesions showing 68 Ga-FAPI-04 uptake in the breast were detected in 29.2% (n = 7) of patients. In 8.3% (n = 2) of the patients, the primary lesion showed only 68 Ga-FAPI-04 uptake. In 68 Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT, 25% (n = 6) of the patients showed more lymph node involvement and more intense uptake in the ipsilateral axilla. In addition, infraclavicular (level 3) lymph nodes in 4 patients (16.7%), supraclavicular lymph nodes in 1 patient, and internal mammary lymph nodes in 1 patient were detected only on 68 Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT. In a patient with lung and bone metastases, 68 Ga-FAPI-04 uptake was higher, and the lung nodule showed only 68 Ga-FAPI-04 uptake.
Conclusions: In selected low-FDG-affinity breast cancer patients, 68 Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT showed the primary tumor with higher sensitivity and higher SUV max values compared with 18 F-FDG PET/CT. In addition, it is believed that this method may contribute to the management of patients' treatment by increasing the nodal stage.
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