Summary: SNMMI Procedure Standard/EANM Practice Guideline for Estrogen Receptor Imaging of Patients with Breast Cancer Using 16α-[18F]Fluoro-17β-Estradiol PET

Abstract

The estrogen receptor (ER), a steroid hormone receptor important in female physiology, is a significant contributor to breast carcinogenesis and progression and, as such, is an important therapeutic target. Approximately 70% of breast cancers will express ER at presentation, and the determination of ER expression by tissue assay, usually by immunohistochemistry, is part of the standard of care for newly diagnosed breast cancer. ER expression is important in guiding the approach to treatment, especially with the increase in relevant systemic therapies. The ER-targeting imaging agent 16α-[¹⁸F]fluoro-17β-estradiol ([¹⁸F]FES) is approved for clinical use by regulatory agencies in France and the United States. Multiple studies suggest the advantages of [¹⁸F]FES PET in assessing tumor ER expression, the ability of both qualitative and quantitative [¹⁸F]FES PET measures to predict response to ER-targeted therapy, and the ability of [¹⁸F]FES PET to clarify equivocal staging and restaging results in patients with ER-expressing cancers. [¹⁸F]FES PET/CT may also be helpful in staging invasive lobular breast cancer and low-grade ER-expressing invasive ductal cancers and, in some cases, may be a substitute for biopsy. The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and the European Association of Nuclear Medicine in June 2023 released a procedure standard/practice guideline for [¹⁸F]FES PET ER imaging of patients with breast cancer. The goal of the standard/guideline is to assist physicians in recommending, performing, interpreting, and reporting the results of [¹⁸F]FES PET studies for patients with breast cancer and to provide clinicians with the best available evidence, inform them about areas where robust evidence is lacking, and help them deliver the best possible diagnostic efficacy and study quality for their patients. Also reviewed are standardized quality control, quality assurance, and imaging procedures for [¹⁸F]FES PET. The authors emphasize the importance of precision, accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility for both clinical management of patients and for use of [¹⁸F]FES PET in multicenter trials. A standardized imaging procedure, in combination with already published appropriate-use criteria, will help promote the use of [¹⁸F]FES PET and enhance subsequent research. This brief summary article reviews the content of the joint standard/guideline, which is available in its entirety at https://www.snmmi.org/ClinicalPractice/content.aspx?ItemNumber=6414&navItemNumbe=10790.