Correlation of glucose transporter-1, hexokinase- II, glucose-6-phosphatase, and proliferative cellular nuclear antigen with 18F-FDG uptake in hepatocellular carcinoma

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the expressions of glucose transporter-1 (Glut1), hexokinase-II (HKII), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), and proliferative cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA) in operatively removed tissue samples by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to elucidate the mechanism of FDG uptake, in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods A total of 10 patients with HCC were examined with FDG PET. Tumor lesions were identified as areas of focally increased uptake, exceeding that of surrounding noncancerous liver tissue. For semi-quantitative analysis, the maximal standardized uptake value (SUV)in HCC was calculated. The expressions of Glut1, HKII, G6Pase, and PCNA in operatively removed tissue samples were compared with FDG SUV.

Results The mean (±S.D.) FDG SUV in HCC was 5.72±4.51. There were significant correlations between FDG SUV and either Glut1 (r=0.99; P<0.001) or HKII (r=0.87; P<0.001) or PCNA (r=0.64; P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between FDG SUV and G6Pase (r=-0.47; P=0.17).

Conclusions These findings suggest that Glut1, HKII and PCNA expressions are related to FDG uptake in HCC.