(18)F-FDG uptake on PET correlates with biological potential in early oral squamous cell carcinoma.
CONCLUSIONS
The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of early oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) may have a role as an imaging biomarker for assessment of malignant potential, including cell metabolism and angiogenesis.


OBJECTIVE
The usefulness of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) has been proven in various cancers, including OSCC. Moreover, in several carcinomas, the SUVmax of the tumor has been shown to correlate with the histological type, tumor stage, differentiation, and prognosis. Here, we investigated whether the SUVmax of early OSCC was associated with the biological features.


METHODS
Twenty-seven patients with newly diagnosed early OSCC who underwent preoperative FDG-PET and curative surgical resection were included in this study. Tumor sections were stained by immunohistochemistry for glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), CD98, microvessels (CD34), cell proliferation marker (Ki-67), and cell cycle regulator (p53). The correlation between SUVmax and clinicopathological findings or the expression level of these molecules was analyzed.


RESULTS
SUVmax of primary OSCC was significantly higher in patients with T2 stage. Moreover, patients whose tumors showed vascular invasion had a tendency to show higher SUVmax. A significant correlation was observed between SUVmax and the expression of LAT1 or microvessel density.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Yuki
Y
Yokobori
Minoru
M
Toyoda
Koichi
K
Sakakura
Kyoichi
K
Kaira
Yoshito
Y
Tsushima
Kazuaki
K
Chikamatsu
D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
SUVmax; angiogenesis; cell metabolism; imaging biomarkers