Relationship between ~(18)F-FDG Uptake and EGFR Mutations in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

【Objective】 The relationship between 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose(18F-FDG) uptake of primary tumor and epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) was investigated in this study.EGFR mutations were predicted by maximum standard uptake value(SUVmax) for clinical application of tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKI).【Methods】 Totally 66 patients dated from November 2006 to September 2010 were collected,who underwent PET / CT examinations and EGFR mutation tests by fluorescent quantitative PCR before any anti-tumor therapies.The 18F-FDG uptake of primary lesions was described with SUVmax,then the relationship was analyzed.【Results】 EGFR mutations within exons 19 and 21 were detected in 22 NSCLC patients(33%).The SUVmax was significantly lower in EGFR mutant-type than wild-type(10 ± 5,14 ± 6,P = 0.006).The SUVmax and EGFR mutations were performed as negative correlation(r =-0.344,P = 0.005).For the prediction of EGFR mutations by SUVmax,the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC) was 0.71(P = 0.006),when the cut off value was 8.8,the Youden Index reached the maximum value(0.43).Patients with low SUVmax were more likely to carry EGFR mutations than those with high SUVmax(71%,20%,P = 0.000).【Conclusion】 The 18F-FDG uptake of primary tumor in NSCLC patients was negatively correlated with EGFR mutations,patients with lower SUVmax were more likely to harbor EGFR mutations.For the advanced NSCLC patient,it might be helpful to identify who is suitable to TKI treatment.