Open AccessCorrelation of angiogenesis with 18 F‐FMT and 18 F‐FDG uptake in non‐small cell lung cancer
Author(s) -
Kaira Kyoichi,
Oriuchi Noboru,
Shimizu Kimihiro,
Ishikita Tomohiro,
Higuchi Tetsuya,
Imai Hisao,
Yanagitani Noriko,
Sunaga Noriaki,
Hisada Takeshi,
Ishizuka Tamotsu,
Kanai Yoshikatsu,
Endou Hitoshi,
Nakajima Takashi,
Endo Keigo,
Mori Masatomo
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2008.01077.x
Subject(s) - angiogenesis , standardized uptake value , lung cancer , cd31 , pathology , medicine , immunohistochemistry , positron emission tomography , correlation , nuclear medicine , neovascularization , histology , cancer , vascular endothelial growth factor , cd34 , microvessel , chemistry , biology , vegf receptors , genetics , geometry , mathematics , stem cell
L‐[3‐ 18 F]‐α‐methyltyrosine ( 18 F‐FMT) is an amino‐acid tracer for positron‐emission tomography (PET). We have conducted a clinicopathologic study to elucidate the correlation of angiogenesis with 18 F‐FMT and 2‐[ 18 F]‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose ( 18 F‐FDG) uptake in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thirty‐seven NSCLC patients were enrolled in this study, and two PET studies with 18 F‐FMT and 18 F‐FDG were performed. Uptake of PET tracers was evaluated with standardized uptake value. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD31, CD34, L‐type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) and Ki‐67 labeling index of the resected tumors were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining, and correlated with the clinicopathologic variables and the uptake of PET tracers. The median VEGF rate was 45% (range, 10–78%). High expression was seen in 30 patients (81%, 30/37). VEGF expression was statistically associated with progressively growing microvessel count. VEGF showed a correlation with LAT1 expression ( P = 0.04) and Ki‐67 labeling index ( P = 0.01). However, it showed no correlation with age, gender, disease stage, tumor size, and histology. Microvessel density (MVD) showed no correlation with any parameters. 18 F‐FMT and 18 F‐FDG uptake correlated significantly with VEGF ( P < 0.0001, P = 0.026, respectively), whereas the correlation of 18 F‐FMT and VEGF was more meaningful. The present study demonstrated that the metabolic activity of primary tumors as evaluated by PET study with 18 F‐FMT and 18 F‐FDG is related to tumor angiogenesis and the proliferative activity in NSCLC. ( Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 753–758)