title: Correlations of (18)F-fluorothymidine uptake with pathological tumour size, Ki-67 and thymidine kinase 1 expressions in primary and metastatic lymph node colorectal cancer foci.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine correlations of (18)F-fluorothymidine (FLT) uptake with pathological tumour size and immunohistochemical Ki-67, and thymidine kinase 1 (TK-1) expressions in primary and metastatic node colorectal cancer foci.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty primary cancers (PCs) and 37 metastatic nodes (MNs) were included. FLT uptake was assessed by visual scores (non-visible: 0-1 and visible: 2-4), standardized uptake value (SUV), and correlated with size, Ki-67, and TK-1. SUV was measured in visible lesions. FLT heterogeneity was assessed by visual scores (no heterogeneous uptake: 0 and heterogeneous uptake: 1-4).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two lesions were visible. The visible group showed significantly higher values than the non-visible group in size, Ki-67, and TK-1 (each p < 0.05). Size correlated significantly with visual score (PC; ρ = 0.74 and MN; ρ = 0.63), SUVmax (PC; ρ = 0.49, and MN; ρ = 0.76), and SUVmean (PC; ρ = 0.40 and MN; ρ = 0.76) (each p < 0.05). Visual score correlated significantly with size (ρ = 0.86), Ki-67max (ρ = 0.35), Ki-67mean (ρ = 0.38), TK-1max (ρ = 0.35) and TK-1mean (ρ = 0.25) (each p < 0.05). No significant correlations were found between FLT uptake and Ki-67 or TK-1 in 42 visible lesions (each p > 0.05). Heterogeneous FLT uptake was noted in 73 % (22/30) of PCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FLT uptake correlated with size. Heterogeneous FLT distribution in colorectal cancers may be one of the causes of weak or lack of FLT uptake/Ki-67 or TK-1 correlation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FLT uptake correlated well with tumour size in colorectal cancer. Weak or lack of FLT uptake/Ki-67 and TK-1 correlations were observed. Immunohistochemical Ki-67 and TK-1 expressions are not always correlated with FLT uptake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8544, Japan, toyo.nakajo@dolphin.ocn.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Masatoyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakajo
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakajo
authors.forename: Yoriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kajiya
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jinguji
authors.forename: Sadao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukukura
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Michiyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001706:Biopsy; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D013937:Thymidine Kinase; C092717:thymidine kinase 1; C002854:alovudine