title: Lack of clinical significance of gallium-67 uptake in non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: To evaluate the clinical significance of tumor Ga-67 uptake, we studied 89 consecutive patients with a potentially resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by performing a whole body Ga-67 scan. For each scintigraphy, an overall Ga-67 accumulation index (T-N) and a volume independent index (T/Nr) were calculated. Both parameters were related to disease extent, response to subsequent treatment and host survival. With the exception of the significant correlations of T-N to both stage of disease and survival-the higher the T-N, the more advanced the disease and the worse the prognosis-no other relationship was found. Based on these findings, we conclude that, in NSCLC at least, gallium uptake is mainly dependent on tumor size and, therefore, of limited practical value.
authors.affiliation: Department of Antonio Carle Hospital of Chest Diseases, Cuneo, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buccheri
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vola
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferrigno
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curcio
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Violante
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes