The correlation between FDG uptake and biological molecular markers in pancreatic cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake is related to the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signal pathway and its related proteins in pancreatic cancer patients.


METHODS
We retrospectively studied 53 pancreatic cancer patients who underwent FDG positron emission tomography (PET) or FDG PET/CT, and complete curative surgical resection. The SUV max, the tumor to nontumor activity of pancreas [T/N (P)] ratio and the T/N of liver [T/N (L)] ratio were calculated. The expressions of glucose transporter-1(Glut-1) and mTOR pathway proteins in pancreas cell lines were examined by immune blots. Excised tumor tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies for Glut-1, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mTOR, p70S6kinase (p70S6) and S6 ribosomal protein (S6).


RESULTS
The expressions of Glut-1, EGFR and p70S6 were significantly correlated with the SUV max, T/N (P) ratio and T/N (L) ratio. The expressions of mTOR and S6 were not correlated with all parameters. The expression of Glut-1 was positively correlated with the expressions of EGFR and p70S6, but not with mTOR or S6. S6 was positively correlated with p70S6.


CONCLUSIONS
Glut-1, EGFR and p70S6 expressions are associated with the FDG uptake mechanism of pancreatic cancer. FDG uptake may predict the levels of EGFR and p70S6 expressions, and FDG uptake reflects glucose metabolism and cancer progression.
Department of Radiology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama City, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan. Electronic address: kaida@med.kindai.ac.jp.
Hayato
H
Kaida
Division of Respirology, Neurology, and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume City, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
Koichi
K
Azuma
Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kurume University Hospital, Kurume City, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
Akihiko
A
Kawahara
Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume City, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
Masafumi
M
Yasunaga
Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume City, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
Yuhei
Y
Kitasato
Biostatic Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume City, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
Satoshi
S
Hattori
Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kurume University Hospital, Kurume City, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
Tomoki
T
Taira
Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume City, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
Hiroki
H
Ureshino
Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kurume University Hospital, Kurume City, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
Masayoshi
M
Kage
Department of Radiology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama City, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan.
Kazunari
K
Ishii
Department of Radiology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama City, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan.
Takamichi
T
Murakami
Division of Nuclear Medicine, PET Center, and Department of Radiology, Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital, Kasuga City, Fukuoka, 816-0864, Japan.
Masatoshi
M
Ishibashi
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; D011300:Preoperative Care; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C495677:SLC2A1 protein, human; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; C546842:MTOR protein, human; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
EGFR; FDG PET; Glut-1; Pancreatic cancer; p70S6