Comparison between tumour metabolism derived from 18F-FDG PET/CT and accurate cytogenetic stratification in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography integrated with computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) is a useful tool for baseline staging in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) but also for prognostic stratification. This monocentric retrospective study aimed at examining the relation between baseline tumour metabolism assessed by 18F-FDG PET/CT and linear predictor (LP) score, a new cytogenetic stratification score.

There is no significant association between quantitative metabolic parameters assessed with 18F-FDG PET/CT and LP score in patients with newly diagnosed MM, suggesting a potential complementarity of these biomarkers for prognostic stratification. A significant association was found between high visual suspicion of DBI and LP score.

From March 2012 to March 2019, 57 patients with newly diagnosed MM addressed to our institution for baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT were included. LP score was determined on systematic iliac crest bone marrow samples. Obtained on CD138-sorted bone marrow plasma cells, this recent composite cytogenetic stratification is a 6-marker based weighted score using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) ± single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. We compared quantitative metabolic parameters and LP score using a Kruskal-Wallis test and visual suspicion of diffuse bone marrow involvement (DBI; based on hepatic background as threshold of positivity) and cytogenetic data using a Chi-squared test.

The distribution of total metabolic tumour volume (TMTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) values among the three LP score categories was almost stochastic, with no significant association (P=0.70). Additionally, no significant association between TMTV/TLG and any of the six cytogenetic abnormalities included in LP score calculation. A significant association was found between visual high suspicion of DBI and LP score (P=0.036), and between this visual parameter and the presence of 1q gain (P=0.049). Conclusions: There is no significant association between quantitative metabolic parameters assessed with 18F-FDG PET/CT and LP score in patients with newly diagnosed MM, suggesting a potential complementarity of these biomarkers for prognostic stratification. A significant association was found between high visual suspicion of DBI and LP score.