The relation between glucose transporters and various factors in initial and interim ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT images in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Objectives Staging and interim PET/CT scans for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) have been used as good methods for evaluation of DLBCL. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and glucose transporters which are known for having relation in DLBCL.

Methods Thirty-three DLBCL patients who underwent initial staging and interim ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan were enrolled in this study. International Prognostic Index (IPI) and initial stage of all patients were investigated by medical records and radiologic studies including PET/CT. From the scans, SUV_max of the lesions, the Δ SUV_max and the Δ SUV_max % between the staging and the interim PET/CT, and Deauville score in the interim scan were investigated. GLUT1, GLUT3 of DLBCL lesions were analyzed by immunohistochemical stains. In GLUT1 and GLUT3, extent and intensity were investigated, respectively. The intensity was classified from 0 (not stained) to 3 (strongly stained) and the extent was classified from 0 (not stained) to 3 (over 75%). The summed score was measured by intensity plus extent.

Results By correlation analysis, the p-values between glucose transporters and various factors in initial and interim ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT images are listed in the table. GLUT3 intensity and summed score of GLUT3 showed good relation with SUVmax of initial PET/CT (p = 0.046, 0.027), and the rho value was - 0.349 and -0.385, respectively. Deauville score, Δ SUVmax , Δ SUVmax %, and SUVmax of interim PET/CT did not show statistical difference.

Conclusions In DLBCL, interim PET/CT values including Deuville score didn’t show significant relation with prognostic factors and glucose transporters. Nevertheless, the initial PET/CT showed relatively good relation with GLUT3 expression.