EGFR Expression Correlates with Maximum Standardized Uptake Value of 18F- fluorodeoxyglucose-PET in Squamous Cell Lung Carcinoma

Title: EGFR Expression Correlates with Maximum Standardized Uptake Value of 18F- fluorodeoxyglucose-PET in Squamous Cell Lung Carcinoma

Volume: 2 Issue: 3

Author(s): Ihab Abdulkader, Alvaro Ruibal, Jose Cameselle-Teijeiro, Francisco Gude, Luis Leon, Patricia Arce-Calisaya, Aida Sanchez-Salmon and Jeronimo Forteza

Affiliation:

Keywords: EGFR, positron emission tomography, squamous cell lung cancer

Abstract: EGFR, an oncogenic tyrosine kinase receptor, is a relevant target for anti-cancer therapies; survival of cancer cells however, is also maintained by EGFR regardless of its kinase activity. In tumor cells EGFR prevents autophagic cell death by maintaining the intracellular glucose level through interaction and stabilization of the sodium/glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1). Since this function of EGFR directly impacts on glucose uptake, positron emission tomography (PET) scans would be a useful biomarker for therapy aimed toward inhibiting the binding of EGFR to SGLT1. Here, we analyzed the possible relationship between the immunoexpression of EGFR in patients with squamous cell lung cancer and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET. Membranous immunostaining for EGFR was positive in all patients, and a correlation between EGFR expression and SUVmax was observed (p < 0.05). Therefore, we can conclude that EGFR expression is a common event associated with squamous cell lung carcinomas that positively correlates with SUVmax.

Cite this article as:

Abdulkader Ihab, Ruibal Alvaro, Cameselle-Teijeiro Jose, Gude Francisco, Leon Luis, Arce-Calisaya Patricia, Sanchez-Salmon Aida and Forteza Jeronimo, EGFR Expression Correlates with Maximum Standardized Uptake Value of 18F- fluorodeoxyglucose-PET in Squamous Cell Lung Carcinoma, Current Radiopharmaceuticals 2009; 2 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874471010902030175