[18F]FDG uptake and PCNA, glut-1, and hexokinase-II expressions in ccancers and inflammatory lesions of the lung

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships among [F-18]fluorodeoxyglucose ([F-18]-FDG) uptake, Glut-1 and HK-II expressions, and grade of inflammation in resected lung lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients had undergone preoperative F-18-FDG-PET imaging and thoracotomy. For semi-quantitative analysis of F-18-FDG uptake, partial volume effect corrected maximum standardized uptake values (pSUVs) were calculated. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in resected specimens using anti-Glut-1, anti-HK-II, and anti-proliferative cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibodies, and immunoreactivities were scored as G-, H-, and P-indexes on a five-point scale (0: 0%; 1: similar to 20%, 2: similar to 40%; 3: similar to 60%; 4: similar to 80%, and 5: similar to 100% percentages of strongly immunoreactive cells). Grade of inflammation was also evaluated. RESULTS: The malignant lesions had higher pSUV and higher G- and H-indexes than nonmalignant lesions. pSUVs correlated with the G- (p <.001), H- (p <.01), and P-indexes (p < 0.01) in malignant lesions. In adenocarcinomas, cancers with lower differentiation showed higher expression of Glut-1 and HK-II than those with higher differentiation. A positive linear regression was observed between pSUVs and the grading of inflammation in nonmalignant lesions (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that F-18-FDG uptake in lung cancer correlates well with Glut-1, HK-II, and PCNA expression. For nonmalignant lesions, the presence of a higher inflammatory process correlated with F-18-FDG uptake.