Association of 18F- fluorodeoxyglucose uptake with the expression of metabolism-related molecules in papillary thyroid cancer

Tomomi Yoshikawa; Kazuhira Endo; Makiko Moriyama-Kita; Takayoshi Ueno; Yosuke Nakanishi; Hirotomo Dochi; Daisuke Uno; Satoru Kondo; Tomokazu Yoshizaki

doi:10.1016/j.anl.2024.04.008

Association of ¹⁸F- fluorodeoxyglucose uptake with the expression of metabolism-related molecules in papillary thyroid cancer

Auris Nasus Larynx. 2024 May 10;51(4):696-702. doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2024.04.008. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Tomomi Yoshikawa¹, Kazuhira Endo², Makiko Moriyama-Kita², Takayoshi Ueno², Yosuke Nakanishi², Hirotomo Dochi², Daisuke Uno², Satoru Kondo², Tomokazu Yoshizaki²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan. Electronic address: tomo-sa@med.kanazawa-u.ac.jp.
² Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan.

PMID: 38733874
DOI: 10.1016/j.anl.2024.04.008

Abstract

Objectives: ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT) is a diagnostic imaging method that is based on the Warburg effect, which is the increased uptake of glucose through aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells. The diagnostic value of ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT for thyroid cancer is controversial. However, uptake of ¹⁸F-FDG and the corresponding maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) is expected to reflect the metabolic status of cancer cells. In the present study, we sought to determine the relationship between ¹⁸F-FDG uptake and tumor metabolism- associated factors.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study. In the present study, SUVmax was compared with the expression of hexokinase 2 (HK2), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and glutaminase 1 (GLS1) in 41 patients with thyroid cancer.

Results: GLS1 expression was found to be moderately correlated with SUVmax (p < 0.001, r = 0.51), whereas HK2 and VEGF expression were weakly correlated (p = 0.011, r = 0.28, p = 0.008, r = 0.29, respectively) and GLUT1 did not correlate with SUVmax (p = 0.62, r = 0.06).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT reflects GLS1 expression in thyroid cancer and could be used to select suitable candidates for GLS1 inhibitor treatment.

Keywords: (18)F-FDG-PET/CT; GLS1; GLUT1; HK2; Thyroid cancer; VEGF.