Correlation of [18F]FDG PET activity with expressions of Ki-67 in non-small-cell lung cancer

Lung carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer throughout the world and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for up to 80% of newly diagnosed lung cancer cases. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Ki-67 proliferation index (PI) and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) obtained from [18F]FDG PET/CT in NSCLCs and whether prognosis was predicted with SUVmax values.

This retrospective study included biopsy and resection materials of 41 patients, who were examined in the pathology laboratory of Konya Training and Research Hospital between January 2010 and December 2019, and diagnosed with NSCLC, and whose [18F]FDG PET/CT images were present.

There was no significant difference between histopathological subtypes in terms of age (p = 0.077), Ki-67 PI (p = 0.454), and SUVmax (p = 0.143). No correlation was observed between Ki-67 PI and SUVmax values obtained from [18F]FDG PET/CT (p = 0.338, r = 0.153). There was no significant correlation between Ki-67 PI and tumor diameter (p = 0.531). The SUVmax value was found to be lower (12.78 ± 6.14) in tumors measuring ≤ 2.5 in diameter and higher (18.46 ± 7.81) in tumors measuring > 2.5 cm (p = 0.027). Metastases not proven histopathologically but detected in [18F]FDG PET/CT were found to have no significant correlation with Ki-67 and SUVmax values (p = 0.881, p = 0.837).

This study showed that there was no significant relationship between Ki-67 PI and SUVmax value obtained from [18F]FDG PET/CT in NSCLC tumors.