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 18F-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, 18F-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)-1α, 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-1α. None of the PET parameters can predict expression of Histone 3, p53 and VEGF.