Metabolo-volumetric parameters of 18F-FDG-PET can predict expression of EGFR and HIF 1alpha in uterine cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to investigate possible relationships between F-18-FDG-PET parameters and clinically relevant histopathological findings in patients with cervical cancer (CC). METHODS: Eighteen female patients (mean age 55.4 years) with histologically confirmed squamous cell CC were involved into the study. In all cases, F-18-FDG-PET CT was performed. Mean and maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmean and SUVmax), total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and metabolic tumor volume (MTV) were determined on PET-images. For every tumor the following specimen stainings were performed: epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor suppressor protein p53, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 alpha, and histone 3. All stained specimens were digitalized and analyzed by using the ImageJ software 1.48v. Spearman's correlation coefficient (p) was used to analyze associations between investigated parameters. p-values < 0.05 were taken to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: TLG and MTV correlated well with expression of EGFR (p = 0.601, P = 0.008 and p = 0.586, P = 0.011, respectively). SUVmedian correlated inversely with expression of HIF 1alpha (p = -0.509, P = 0.031). SUVmean tended to correlate with expression of EGFR and HIF 1alpha. None of the PET parameters correlated with expression of Histone 3, p53 and VEGF. CONCLUSION: TLG and MTV can reflect expression of EGFR and SUVmedian correlated significantly with expression of HIF-1 alpha. None of the PET parameters can predict expression of Histone 3, p53 and VEGF.