Associations Between [F]FDG-PET and Complex Histopathological Parameters Including Tumor Cell Count and Expression of KI 67, EGFR, VEGF, HIF-1α, and p53 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of common cancers worldwide. Positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-deoxy-2-[F]fluoro-D-glucose ([F]FDG) is increasingly used for diagnosing and staging, as well as for monitoring of treatment of HNSCC. PET parameters like maximum and mean standard uptake values (SUV, SUV) can predict the behavior of HNSCC. The purpose of this study was to analyze possible associations between these PET parameters and clinically relevant histopathological features in patients with HNSCC.

Procedures: Overall, 22 patients, mean age, 55.2 ± 11.0 years, with different HNSCC were acquired. Low grade (G1/2) tumors were diagnosed in 10 cases (45 %) and high grade (G3) tumor in 12 (55 %) patients. In all cases, whole body PET was performed. For this study, the following specimen stainings were performed: MIB-1 staining (KI 67 expression), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor suppressor protein p53, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, and human papilloma virus (p16 expression). All stained specimens were digitalized and analyzed by using the ImageJ software 1.48v. Spearman's correlation coefficient (ρ) was used to analyze associations between investigated parameters. P values <0.05 were taken to indicate statistical significance.

Results: P16-negative tumors showed statistically significant higher SUV (ρ = 0.006) and SUV values (ρ = 0.002) in comparison to p16-positive carcinomas. No significant differences were identified in the analyzed parameters between poorly and moderately/well-differentiated tumors. In overall sample, there were no statistically significant correlations between the [F]FDG-PET and histopathological parameters. Also, in G1/2 tumors, no significant correlations were identified. In G3 carcinomas, cell count correlated statistical significant with SUV (p = 0.580, P = 0.048) and SUV (ρ = 0.587, P = 0.045).

Conclusion: Associations between [F]FDG-PET parameters and different histopathological features in HNSCC depend significantly on tumor grading. In G1/2 carcinomas, there were no significant correlations between [F]FDG-PET parameters and histopathology. In G3 lesions, SUV and SUV reflect tumor cellularity.