科學(xué)家最近報(bào)道，對(duì)晚期乳腺癌化療的效率能夠通過使用正電子發(fā)射體層成像（PET）來進(jìn)行早期評(píng)估，而不是使用使用其它當(dāng)前使用的影像學(xué)檢查方法。

在治療基線期和治療進(jìn)行PET掃描，能夠“在第一療程化療的早期即可預(yù)測(cè)治療反應(yīng)”，Norbert Avril醫(yī)生如此評(píng)論說，他是美國匹茲堡大學(xué)醫(yī)學(xué)中心核醫(yī)學(xué)主任。

根據(jù)Arvil醫(yī)生的說法，傳統(tǒng)的影像學(xué)檢查技術(shù)，例如計(jì)算機(jī)斷層掃描（CT）、核磁共振（MRI）、平面薄膜放射學(xué)檢查、以及超聲波檢查，都不能夠在治療早期精確預(yù)測(cè)治療反應(yīng)。化療通常用于延長(zhǎng)生存時(shí)間和改善生活治療。他說在治療早期鑒別出那些對(duì)化療無反應(yīng)的患者十分必要，因?yàn)榭梢浴氨苊鉄o效治療以及無必要的副作用“。

Arvil醫(yī)生在這項(xiàng)研究中報(bào)道說，個(gè)體化治療能夠?yàn)榛颊吆歪t(yī)生提供以前所無法提供的選擇。這項(xiàng)研究發(fā)表在2005年7月期的《核醫(yī)學(xué)期刊》之上。
 
Assessing Therapy in Advanced Breast Cancer
 
Scientists recently reported that the effectiveness of chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer can be assessed earlier by utilizing positron emission tomography (PET) scanning rather than other current imaging modalities.

PET scanning performed at baseline and after treatment is initiated “allowed prediction of response as early as after the first cycle of chemotherapy,” said Dr. Norbert Avril, chief of nuclear medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (PA, USA).

Traditional imaging techniques, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), plain film radiography, and ultrasound, do not accurately predict therapy response early in the course of treatment, according to Dr. Arvil. Chemotherapy is usually used to improve survival and quality of life. He said it is necessary to identify early those individuals who do not respond to chemotherapy “to avoid ineffective therapies and unnecessary side effects.”

Dr. Arvil reported in the study that the ability to customize treatment provides patients and clinicians with options not previously available. The study was published in the July 2005 issue of Journal of Nuclear Medicine.