OBJECTIVE

Molecular subtyping of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) has major implications for prognostic relevance and treatment guidance. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of a novel tracer targeting C-X-C-chemokine-receptor-type-4 (CXCR4) for distinguishing different SCLC subtypes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-five patients with pathologically confirmed SCLC were enrolled in this prospective study. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to classify the molecular subtypes into SCLC-A, SCLC-N, SCLC-P, and SCLC-I. [¹⁸F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 PET/CT parameters were obtained, including the maximum, mean, and peak standard uptake values (SUV, SUV, and SUV, respectively) and the ratios of tumors (T) and normal tissues (NT) based on the SUV (T/NT). These parameters were compared among the molecular subtypes. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the performance of the parameters for distinguishing SCLC-N from other subtypes and neuroendocrine (NE) subtypes (SCLC-A and SCLC-N) from non-NE subtypes (SCLC-P and SCLC-I).

RESULTS

The molecular subtypes were SCLC-A (n = 17), SCLC-N (n = 6), SCLC-P (n = 7), and SCLC-I (n = 5). The SCLC-N subtype exhibited significantly higher uptake in both primary tumors and lymph node metastases than the other three subtypes ( < 0.05). When SCLC-N was compared with the other three subtypes combined (referred to as "other SCLCs"), all parameters were significantly higher in the SCLC-N group ( < 0.05). ROC analysis showed that these parameters had high accuracy in distinguishing SCLC-N from other SCLCs (area under ROC curve: 0.868-0.948 for primary tumors and 0.783-0.888 for lymph node metastases). Compared with the non-NE group, the SUV, SUV, and T/NT were significantly higher in the NE group for primary tumors. ROC analysis showed moderate accuracy in distinguishing between the NE and non-NE groups (ROC area: 0.692-0.786 for primary tumors and 0.692-0.815 for lymph node metastases).

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary findings indicate that CXCR4-directed PET/CT imaging using [¹⁸F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 may differentiate between SCLC-N and other molecular subtypes and between NE and non-NE subtypes of SCLC.