Correlation of (18)F-fluoromisonidazole PET findings with HIF-1α and p53 expressions in head and neck cancer: comparison with (18)F-FDG PET.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

We evaluated tumor hypoxia using F-fluoromisonidazole (F-FMISO) PET in relation to the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and p53 in patients with head and neck cancer and compared the results with those obtained using 2-deoxy-2-F-fluoro-D-glucose (F-FDG) PET.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 28 tumors (23 primary tumors and five metastatic lymph nodes) from 24 patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer were examined with F-FMISO PET and F-FDG PET. The F-FMISO PET images were scaled to the venous blood concentration of F-FMISO activity to produce tumor-to-blood (T/B) values. Hypoxia was defined as a region with a T/B ratio greater than or equal to 1.2. The maximum T/B (T/Bmax) and hypoxic volumes were calculated by region-of-interest analysis. For F-FDG PET, the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and hypermetabolic volume were calculated by region-of-interest analysis. The expressions of HIF-1α and p53 using immunohistochemistry were estimated in tumor tissue samples.

RESULTS:

A weak correlation was observed between hypoxic volume and T/Bmax (r=0.53, P=0.003) on using F-FMISO PET and between hypermetabolic volume and SUVmax (r=0.38, P=0.046) on using F-FDG PET. The hypoxic volume using F-FMISO PET and hypermetabolic volume using F-FDG PET also showed a weak correlation (r=0.44, P=0.020). The values of F-FMISO hypoxic volume showed a weak correlation with HIF-1α (r=0.40, P=0.037) and p53 (r=0.47, P=0.012) obtained on immunohistochemical examination.

CONCLUSION:

This study demonstrates a weak correlation between hypoxic volume measured by F-FMISO PET and expressions of HIF-1α and p53 in head and neck cancer.

• Authors: Takashi Norikane, Yuka Yamamoto, Yukito Maeda, Nobuyuki Kudomi, Toru Matsunaga, Reiji Haba, Akinori Iwasaki, Hiroshi Hoshikawa, Yoshihiro Nishiyama
• Journal: Nuclear medicine communications (Nucl Med Commun) Vol. 35 Issue 1 Pg. 30-5 (Jan 2014) ISSN: 1473-5628 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24121312 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• HIF1A protein, human
• Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
• fluoromisonidazole
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Misonidazole

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Biological Transport
• Female
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 (metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, metabolism)
• Humans
• Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit (metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Misonidazole (analogs & derivatives, metabolism)
• Positron-Emission Tomography
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 (metabolism)