Liver-to-brain ratio in the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma

• Grant number: 24/11009-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Radiology
• Principal Investigator: Celso Darío Ramos
• Grantee: Tiago Pessolo dos Santos
• Host Institution: Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia (HEMOCENTRO). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10265-8 - Cancer Theranostics Innovation Center (CancerThera), AP.CEPID

Abstract

18F-FDG PET/CT imaging has been widely used in oncology for diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Specifically, for multiple myeloma, these images play an important role in the evaluation of bone lesions. Studies have shown a decrease in 18F-FDG uptake in the brains of patients with widespread neoplasms, such as malignant lymphoma and poorly differentiated carcinoma, based on the hypothesis of a diversion of the radiotracer from the brain to hypermetabolic tumor tissues.Objective: The main objective of this research is to evaluate whether the 18F-FDG uptake ratio between the liver and the brain of patients with multiple myeloma (liver-to-brain ratio - LBR) impacts patient prognosis.Methods: The LBR will be calculated by dividing the SUV of the liver by the SUV of the brain for each patient. The LBR will be obtained in two ways: first using the respective maximum SUVs (LBR_max) and then using the mean values (LBR_mean). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis will be used to assess associations between LBR and patient prognosis.Expected Outcomes: It is expected to find a worse prognosis for patients with a higher LBR.