AUTHOR=Gao Yuan , Wu Caixia , Chen Xueqi , Ma Linlin , Zhang Xi , Chen Jinzhi , Liao Xuhe , Liu Meng 

TITLE=PET/CT molecular imaging in the era of immune-checkpoint inhibitors therapy

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1049043

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2022.1049043

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Cancer immunotherapy, especially immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has paved a new way for the treatment of many types of malignancies, particularly advanced-stage cancers. Accumulating evidence suggests that as a molecular imaging modality, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) can play a vital role in the management of ICIs therapy by using different molecular probes and metabolic parameters. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical data to support the importance of <sup>18</sup>F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT (<sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT) imaging in the treatment of ICIs, including the evaluation of the tumor microenvironment, discovery of immune-related adverse events, evaluation of therapeutic efficacy, and prediction of therapeutic prognosis. We also discuss perspectives on the development direction of <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT imaging, with a particular emphasis on possible challenges in the future. In addition, we summarize the researches on novel PET molecular probes that are expected to potentially promote the precise application of ICIs.</p>