Effects of DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction on fluorine-18 FDG uptake of primary breast cancer lesions.
BACKGROUND
Flow cytometry (FCM) evaluating DNA content is emerging as the tool to monitor cell proliferation and malignant potential in several cancers such as stomach, lung, and salivary gland tumor. The purpose of this study was to correlate (18)F-FDG uptake of dual-time-point (DTP) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF) in primary breast cancer lesions.


METHODS
Seventy-two consecutive female patients (mean age ± SD, 52.7 ± 11.1 years; range, 28-81 years) had undergone (18)F-FDG DTP PET/computed tomography (CT) imaging for staging of breast malignancy in our institution during a 5-month period. FCM was performed on fresh-frozen samples of specimens obtained from surgery. (18)F-FDG uptake was then compared with DNA content.


RESULTS
Forty-four malignant lesions were included in this study. On FCM, DNA aneuploidy was detected in 14 lesions (31.8%). The maximum standardized uptake values (SUV(max1) and SUV(max2)) (SUV(max1), 6.8 ± 4.6 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4; P = .017), (SUV(max2), 7.9 ± 5.7 vs. 3.6 ± 2.7; P = .015) and retention index (RI) (12.8 ± 11.6 vs. 2.4 ± 10.8; P = .010) were significantly higher in DNA aneuploidy cancer than in DNA diploidy cancer. The value of RI (11.3 ± 11.5 vs. 2.6 ± 11.2; P = .022) was significantly higher in high SPF (> 15%) breast cancer than in low SPF (≤ 15%) breast cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
High (18)F-FDG uptake in breast cancer might be an indicator of DNA aneuploidy and high SPF. We propose that (18)F-FDG PET/CT imaging may be a noninvasive and useful tool for predicting the DNA content in breast cancer.
Department of Nuclear Medicine and Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Jeollabuk-do, Korea.
Dae-Weung
DW
Kim
Chang Guhn
CG
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011003:Ploidies; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D016196:S Phase; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D004247:DNA