Is the Glut expression related to FDG uptake in PET/CT of non-small cell lung cancer patients?

Though 18F-FDG PET/CT scans are widely used in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the mechanism of FDG uptake by lung cancer cells has not yet been fully elucidated. This study evaluated the relationship between FDG uptake and the expression of glucose transporters in NSCLC. Sixty-four NSCLC patients who underwent both preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT scanning and thoracotomy were included. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the primary lung cancer was compared to the immunohistochemistry results for Glut expression and tumor size. In all the NSCLC cases, degree of FDG uptake significantly correlated with both Glut-1 and Glut-3 expression. When stratified by the histology, squamous cell carcinomas showed higher mean SUVmax, Glut-1 expression intensity, and percentage of area positive for Glut-1 expression than adenocarcinomas. Glut-1 and Glut-3 expressions correlated with SUVmax in adenocarcinomas, but there was no significant correlation in squamous cell carcinomas. No significant correlation was observed between tumor size and FDG uptake or Glut expression. These results show that Glut expression was significantly correlated with SUVmax in NSCLC, especially in adenocarcinomas, and that neither FDG uptake nor the expression of Glut was associated with tumor size.