Correlation of the standardized uptake value in FDG-PET with the expression level of cell-cycle-related molecular biomarkers in resected non-small cell lung cancers.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between the maximum standardized uptake value (maxSUV) and the expression levels of cell-cycle-related molecular biomarkers.


METHODS
Thirty consecutive patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were enrolled in the study. Histologically, the tumors included 23 adenocarcinomas and 7 squamous cell carcinomas. Protein expressions of Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and p53 were examined by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
The maxSUV was higher in poorly differentiated NSCLCs than in well-differentiated and moderately differentiated tumors (p <0.05). The Ki-67 labeling index was higher in squamous cell carcinomas than in adenocarcinomas (p <0.05), and also in poorly differentiated tumors than in well-differentiated and moderately differentiated tumors (p <0.01). A positive correlation was found between the maxSUV and Ki-67 expression level (r = 0.687, p <0.001). No correlation was found between maxSUV and PCNA expression (r = 0.214, p = 0.248) or between maxSUV and p53 expression (r = 0.357, p = 0.09). Among the molecular biomarkers, an association was found between the expression levels of Ki-67 and PCNA (r = 0.515, p <0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Immunohistochemical staining with Ki-67 in NSCLC correlates with maxSUV. Measurement of the maxSUV by PET is a simple and noninvasive method to determine the biological cancer cell proliferation potential.
Nakamura
Haruhiko
H
Department of Chest Surgery, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
Hirata
Takeshi
T
Kitamura
Hajime
H
Nishikawa
Junichi
J
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18