Correlation between 18F-FDG PET/CT standardized uptake value with prognostic factors and gene expression profiles in breast cancer: Single center study from Azerbaijan

Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to identify relation between SUVmax value of breast lesions and prognostic factors especially aggressiveness factor Ki-67 index, gene expression profiles of ERCC1, TYMS, RRM1, TUBB3 genes, breast cancer molecular subtypes in breast cancer.

Material and Methods: Study subjects were 430 breast cancer patients at initial presentation who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT. Relations between SUVmax value of breast lesions and age of patient, SUVmax value axillary lymph node lesions, receptor status, Ki-67 index, gene expression profiles of ERCC1, TYMS, RRM1, TUBB3 genes, lymph node metastasis and any distant metastasis were analyzed expression was assessed by one-way ANOVA, Chi-squared test and Spearman correlation test. There were 97 cases with Ki-67 index results among 430 breast cancer patients.

Results: In analysis, SUVmax value of breast lesions were associated with age, SUVmax value of axillary lymph node lesion, Ki-67 level, LN metastasis and distant solid organ metastasis. There were positive correlation between SUVmax value of breast lesions and SUVmax value of axillary lymph nodes, Ki-67 level, distant solid organ metastasis (r=0.463, p<0.0001, n=112; r=0,285, p=0.0046, n=97; r=0.365, p<0.0001, n=192, respectively) and negative correlation between SUVmax value of breast lesions and patient age (r= -0,148 and p=0,0409, n=192). There were no any significant relations between PET-CT SUVmax value of breast lesions and breast cancer molecular subtypes (Luminal A, B, HER2-enriched, triple-negative) and gene expression profiles of ERCC1, TYMS, RRM1, TUBB3 genes.

Conclusions: Studies have found that tumors with higher levels of Ki-67 have a poor prognosis relation to tumors with lower levels. The positive correlation was found between SUVmax value and Ki-67 help to identify tumors with more aggressive behaviour. Acknowledgement: This study supported by funding from the Science Development Foundation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan [Grant № EİF-2014-9(24)-KETPL-14/13/3]