Seunghong Rhee

Correlation between Semi-Quantitative (18)F-FDG PET/CT Parameters and Ki-67 Expression in Small Cell Lung Cancer.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between semiquantitative parameters on 18F-FDG PET/CT including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and the expression level of Ki-67 in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).MethodsNinety-four consecutive patients with SCLC were enrolled in this study. They underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT for initial evaluation of SCLC, and we measured SUVmax, avgSUVmean, MTVsum, and TLGtotal on 18F-FDG PET/CT images. The protein expression of Ki-67 was examined by immunohistochemical staining.ResultsSignificant correlations were found between the MTVsum and Ki-67 labeling index (r = 0.254, p = 0.014) and the TLGtotal and Ki-67 labeling index (r = 0.239, p = 0.020). No correlation was found between the SUVmax and Ki-67 labeling index (r = 0.116, p = 0.264) and the avgSUVmean and Ki-67 labeling index (r = 0.031, p = 0.770). Dividing the Ki-67 expression level into three categories, it was suggested that increasing Ki-67 expression level caused a stepwise increase in the MTVsum and TLGtotal. (p = 0.028 and 0.039, respectively), but not the SUVmax and avgSUVmean (p = 0.526 and 0.729, respectively).ConclusionIn conclusion, the volume-based parameters of 18F-FDG PET/CT correlate with immunohistochemical staining of Ki-67 in SCLC. Measurement of the MTVsum and TLGtotal by 18F-FDG PET/CT might be a simple, noninvasive, and useful method to determine the proliferative potential of cancer cells.

Predictive Role of Functional Visceral Fat Activity Assessed by Preoperative F-18 FDG PET/CT for Regional Lymph Node or Distant Metastasis in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Objectives To investigate the role of functional visceral fat activity assessed by preoperative F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in colorectal cancer (CRC) for predicting regional lymph node (LN) or distant metastasis. Method We evaluated 131 patients with newly diagnosed CRC. They all underwent pre-operative 18F-FDG PET/CT and surgery. Functional fat activity was measured by maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) using 18F-FDG PET/CT. Functional visceral fat activity was measured by SUVmax of visceral fat/SUVmax of subcutaneous fat (V/S) ratio. Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, Fisher’s exact test, receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, Spearrman’s correlation coefficient, and uni- and multivariate logistic regression statistical analyses were done. Results Patients with higher V/S ratio displayed a significantly higher rate of regional LN (p = 0.004) and distant metastasis (p<0.001). In addition, V/S ratio was the only factor that was significantly associated with distant metastasis. An optimal cut-off V/S ratio of 1.88 was proposed for predicting distant metastasis with a sensitivity of 84.6% and specificity of 78.8% (area under the curve: 0.86; p<0.0001) Conclusion Functional visceral fat activity is significantly associated with distant metastasis in CRC patients. Furthermore, V/S ratio can be useful as a complementary factor in predicting distant metastasis.