Yuka Yamamoto MD, PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Reiko Kameyama MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kunihiko Izuishi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yoshihiro Nishiyama MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The purpose of this study was to examine equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 (ENT1), thymidine kinase-1 (TK1) and thymidylate kinase (TMPK) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expressions in operatively removed tissue samples by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to elucidate the mechanism of 3'-deoxy-3'-18F-fluorothymidine (FLT) uptake, in gastrointestinal cancer.

A total of 21 patients with gastrointestinal cancer (gastric cancer 10 and colorectal cancer 11) were examined with FLT PET. Tumor lesions were identified as areas of focally increased uptake, exceeding that of surrounding normal tissue. For semi-quantitative analysis, the maximal standardized uptake value (SUV) in cancer was calculated. The mRNA expressions of ENT1, TK1 and TMPK in operatively removed tissue samples were compared with FLT SUV.

All gastrointestinal cancer lesions but one gastric cancer showed focally increased uptake of FLT PET. The mean (±SD) FLT SUV in gastrointestinal cancer was 5.48±1.87. There was a significant correlation between FLT SUV and TK1 mRNA expression (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between FLT SUV and either ENT1 (p=0.90) or TMPK (p=0.10).

In this preliminary study, gastrointestinal cancer was able to be visualized on FLT PET. We found a significant relationship between FLT SUV and TK1 mRNA expression, measured by RT-PCR, in gastrointestinal cancer.

Gastrointestinal cancer was able to visualize on FLT PET. There was a significant correlation of TK1 mRNA expression with FLT uptake, in gastrointestinal cancer.

Yamamoto, Y, Kameyama, R, Izuishi, K, Nishiyama, Y, Correlation of ENT1, TK1 and TMPK Expressions with F-18 FLT Uptake in Gastrointestinal Cancer.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9014462.html