Relationship between Overexpression of Hexokinase-Ⅱ and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Nasophygeal Carcinoma and Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake of PET/CT

Abstract:Objective To assess the relationships among the overexpression of hexokinase-Ⅱ（HK-Ⅱ) and vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF）and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake of tumors in patients with nasophageal carcinoma. Methods From March 2005 to August 2006,40 patients with nasophageal carcinoma were imaged with FDG positron emission tomography(PET).Their maximum and mean standard uptake value (SUVmax and SUVmean)were measured.The expression of HK-Ⅱ and vascular endothelial growth factor of 40 cases was studied in paraffin sections by SP immunohistochemistry. Results The FDG uptake of tumors in 40 patients with nasophageal carcinoma were (9.45±1.87)（SUVmax） and (6.04±1.09)(SUVmean) respectively.The tumor tissues in 40 patients were tested to be HK-Ⅱ positive and VEGF positive.The ratio of HK-Ⅱ positive cells were 68.33% and VEGF positived cells were 60.80%,respectively in the tumor tissues.There were correlations between HK-Ⅱ expression and tumors'FDG uptake（r=0.493,P＝0.001）and between VEGF expression and tumors'FDG uptake（r=0.460,P＝0.03）. Conclusion Overexpression of HK-Ⅱ and VEGF correlates with FDG uptake in patients with nasophageal carcinoma.