Elevated FDG uptake in non-tumorous lung regions does not predict immune checkpoint inhibitor–related pneumonitis in lung cancer patients

BackgroundPredictors for checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (cinrPneumonitis) are desperately needed. This study aimed to investigate the pretreatment standardized uptake value (SUV) on [18F]FDG-PET/CT of non-tumorous lung tissue as a predictive imaging marker for the development of cinrPneumo...

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Main Authors: Friederike Völter, Lukas Wehlte, Blerina Resuli, Julia Walter, Lea Daisenberger, Maria Ingenerf, Maurice Heimer, Matthias Brendel, Gabriel T. Sheikh, Lena M. Unterrainer, Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero, Thomas Pfluger, Lucie Heinzerling, Amanda Tufman
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Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1563030/full
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author Friederike Völter
Friederike Völter
Friederike Völter
Lukas Wehlte
Blerina Resuli
Blerina Resuli
Blerina Resuli
Julia Walter
Julia Walter
Julia Walter
Lea Daisenberger
Maria Ingenerf
Maurice Heimer
Matthias Brendel
Matthias Brendel
Matthias Brendel
Gabriel T. Sheikh
Lena M. Unterrainer
Lena M. Unterrainer
Lena M. Unterrainer
Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero
Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero
Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero
Thomas Pfluger
Lucie Heinzerling
Lucie Heinzerling
Amanda Tufman
Amanda Tufman
Amanda Tufman
author_facet Friederike Völter
Friederike Völter
Friederike Völter
Lukas Wehlte
Blerina Resuli
Blerina Resuli
Blerina Resuli
Julia Walter
Julia Walter
Julia Walter
Lea Daisenberger
Maria Ingenerf
Maurice Heimer
Matthias Brendel
Matthias Brendel
Matthias Brendel
Gabriel T. Sheikh
Lena M. Unterrainer
Lena M. Unterrainer
Lena M. Unterrainer
Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero
Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero
Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero
Thomas Pfluger
Lucie Heinzerling
Lucie Heinzerling
Amanda Tufman
Amanda Tufman
Amanda Tufman
author_sort Friederike Völter
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundPredictors for checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (cinrPneumonitis) are desperately needed. This study aimed to investigate the pretreatment standardized uptake value (SUV) on [18F]FDG-PET/CT of non-tumorous lung tissue as a predictive imaging marker for the development of cinrPneumonitis in 239 patients with lung cancer.MethodsAll patients with lung cancer receiving [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) prior to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy were included and retrospectively analyzed. Pretreatment SUVMEAN, SUVMAX, SUV95, SUV normalized by lean body mass (SULMEAN, SULMAX) and clinical variables were compared for patients with and without cinrPneumonitis. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the predictive value of pretreatment SUV for the development of cinrPneumonitis.ResultsA total of 239 patients were included, of whom 41 (17.2%) developed cinrPneumonitis. The pretreatment radioligand uptake (SUVMEAN, SUVMAX, SUV95, SULMEAN and SULMAX) was not significantly elevated in patients who developed cinrPneumonitis. Logistic regression using sex, age, body mass index and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as covariables additionally showed no significant association between pretreatment radioligand uptake and the risk of cinrPneumonitis. However, an increased likelihood of developing cinrPneumonitis (relative risk = 1.979; p = 0.027) was shown in patients who received thoracic radiation during ICI therapy.ConclusionThis is the largest study on the association of pretreatment radioligand uptake of the non-tumorous lung and the risk of a cinrPneumonitis. Our results showed no significant association between elevated pretreatment radioligand uptake of non-tumorous lung tissue on FDG-PET/CT and the development of cinrPneumonitis.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Oncology
spelling doaj-art-dbbae6c8bc6e447eb1dd344cb600e27f2025-08-20T05:32:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-08-011510.3389/fonc.2025.15630301563030Elevated FDG uptake in non-tumorous lung regions does not predict immune checkpoint inhibitor–related pneumonitis in lung cancer patientsFriederike Völter0Friederike Völter1Friederike Völter2Lukas Wehlte3Blerina Resuli4Blerina Resuli5Blerina Resuli6Julia Walter7Julia Walter8Julia Walter9Lea Daisenberger10Maria Ingenerf11Maurice Heimer12Matthias Brendel13Matthias Brendel14Matthias Brendel15Gabriel T. Sheikh16Lena M. Unterrainer17Lena M. Unterrainer18Lena M. Unterrainer19Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero20Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero21Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero22Thomas Pfluger23Lucie Heinzerling24Lucie Heinzerling25Amanda Tufman26Amanda Tufman27Amanda Tufman28Department of Nuclear Medicine, LMU University Hospital, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Medicine IV, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, LMU University Hospital, Munich, GermanyGerman Center for Lung Research (Deutsches Zentrum für Lungenforschung (DZL)) (Comprehensive Pneumology Center - Munich (CPC-M)), Munich, GermanyDepartment of Medicine V, LMU University Hospital, Munich, GermanyGerman Center for Lung Research (Deutsches Zentrum für Lungenforschung (DZL)) (Comprehensive Pneumology Center - Munich (CPC-M)), Munich, GermanyDepartment of Medicine V, LMU University Hospital, Munich, GermanyBayerisches Zentrum für Krebsforschung (BZKF), Munich, GermanyGerman Center for Lung Research (Deutsches Zentrum für Lungenforschung (DZL)) (Comprehensive Pneumology Center - Munich (CPC-M)), Munich, GermanyDepartment of Medicine V, LMU University Hospital, Munich, GermanyBayerisches Zentrum für Krebsforschung (BZKF), Munich, GermanyDepartment of Dermatology and Allergy, LMU University Hospital, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Radiology, LMU University Hospital, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Radiology, LMU University Hospital, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, LMU University Hospital, Munich, GermanyMunich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, GermanyGerman Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich,  GermanyDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, LMU University Hospital, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, LMU University Hospital, Munich, GermanyBayerisches Zentrum für Krebsforschung (BZKF), Munich, Germany0Ahmanson Translational Theranostics Division, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United StatesGerman Center for Lung Research (Deutsches Zentrum für Lungenforschung (DZL)) (Comprehensive Pneumology Center - Munich (CPC-M)), Munich, GermanyDepartment of Medicine V, LMU University Hospital, Munich, GermanyBayerisches Zentrum für Krebsforschung (BZKF), Munich, GermanyDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, LMU University Hospital, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Dermatology and Allergy, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany1Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen – European Metropolitan Region Nürnberg, Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) Alliance Würzburg, Erlangen, Regensburg, and Augsburg (WERA), Erlangen, GermanyGerman Center for Lung Research (Deutsches Zentrum für Lungenforschung (DZL)) (Comprehensive Pneumology Center - Munich (CPC-M)), Munich, GermanyDepartment of Medicine V, LMU University Hospital, Munich, GermanyBayerisches Zentrum für Krebsforschung (BZKF), Munich, GermanyBackgroundPredictors for checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (cinrPneumonitis) are desperately needed. This study aimed to investigate the pretreatment standardized uptake value (SUV) on [18F]FDG-PET/CT of non-tumorous lung tissue as a predictive imaging marker for the development of cinrPneumonitis in 239 patients with lung cancer.MethodsAll patients with lung cancer receiving [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) prior to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy were included and retrospectively analyzed. Pretreatment SUVMEAN, SUVMAX, SUV95, SUV normalized by lean body mass (SULMEAN, SULMAX) and clinical variables were compared for patients with and without cinrPneumonitis. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the predictive value of pretreatment SUV for the development of cinrPneumonitis.ResultsA total of 239 patients were included, of whom 41 (17.2%) developed cinrPneumonitis. The pretreatment radioligand uptake (SUVMEAN, SUVMAX, SUV95, SULMEAN and SULMAX) was not significantly elevated in patients who developed cinrPneumonitis. Logistic regression using sex, age, body mass index and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as covariables additionally showed no significant association between pretreatment radioligand uptake and the risk of cinrPneumonitis. However, an increased likelihood of developing cinrPneumonitis (relative risk = 1.979; p = 0.027) was shown in patients who received thoracic radiation during ICI therapy.ConclusionThis is the largest study on the association of pretreatment radioligand uptake of the non-tumorous lung and the risk of a cinrPneumonitis. Our results showed no significant association between elevated pretreatment radioligand uptake of non-tumorous lung tissue on FDG-PET/CT and the development of cinrPneumonitis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1563030/fulllung cancerNSCLCSCLC[18F]FDG-PET/CTstandardized uptake valuecheckpoint inhibitor therapy
spellingShingle Friederike Völter
Friederike Völter
Friederike Völter
Lukas Wehlte
Blerina Resuli
Blerina Resuli
Blerina Resuli
Julia Walter
Julia Walter
Julia Walter
Lea Daisenberger
Maria Ingenerf
Maurice Heimer
Matthias Brendel
Matthias Brendel
Matthias Brendel
Gabriel T. Sheikh
Lena M. Unterrainer
Lena M. Unterrainer
Lena M. Unterrainer
Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero
Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero
Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero
Thomas Pfluger
Lucie Heinzerling
Lucie Heinzerling
Amanda Tufman
Amanda Tufman
Amanda Tufman
Elevated FDG uptake in non-tumorous lung regions does not predict immune checkpoint inhibitor–related pneumonitis in lung cancer patients
Frontiers in Oncology
lung cancer
NSCLC
SCLC
[18F]FDG-PET/CT
standardized uptake value
checkpoint inhibitor therapy
title Elevated FDG uptake in non-tumorous lung regions does not predict immune checkpoint inhibitor–related pneumonitis in lung cancer patients
title_full Elevated FDG uptake in non-tumorous lung regions does not predict immune checkpoint inhibitor–related pneumonitis in lung cancer patients
title_fullStr Elevated FDG uptake in non-tumorous lung regions does not predict immune checkpoint inhibitor–related pneumonitis in lung cancer patients
title_full_unstemmed Elevated FDG uptake in non-tumorous lung regions does not predict immune checkpoint inhibitor–related pneumonitis in lung cancer patients
title_short Elevated FDG uptake in non-tumorous lung regions does not predict immune checkpoint inhibitor–related pneumonitis in lung cancer patients
title_sort elevated fdg uptake in non tumorous lung regions does not predict immune checkpoint inhibitor related pneumonitis in lung cancer patients
topic lung cancer
NSCLC
SCLC
[18F]FDG-PET/CT
standardized uptake value
checkpoint inhibitor therapy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1563030/full
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