Glucose Transporter-1 and Tumor Size Affect Assessment in Gastric Cancer on SPECT

Background: GLUT-1 expression is the crucial parameter affecting gastric cancer 18-FDG absorption is still controversial. This study is to explore the significance of GLUT-1 in gastric cancer 18-FDG SPECT. Material/Methods: The gastric cancer samples of 134 patients with preoperative 18-FDG SPECT were assessed by GLUT-1 immunohistochemi­cal staining. The clinicopathological information of enrolled patients were analyzed with univariate and regression analyses. Results: The SUVmax in positive GLUT-1 expression was significantly higher than that in negative expression (5.136±3.088 vs 4.003±3.604, p=0.004). Tumor diameter (OR 1.415, p=0.005) and GLUT-1 expression level(OR 1.683, p=0.041) were the factors associated with imaging results by visual assessment, independently. Tumor diameter was independent factor associated with SUVmax in positive imaging cases (p=0.029). Tumor diameter(p=0.003) and tumor differentiation(p=0.026) were independent factors related to SUVmax in differentiated carcinoma cases. Conclusions: GLUT-1 expression level is major factor determining 18-FDG uptake of gastric cancer on SPECT. It is necessary to verify the result with PET/CT. Further investigation on analysis GLUT-1 expression in lesions of gastric cancer metastases and recurrences is required.