ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the correlations among standardized uptake value (SUV) and clinicopathological features of cervical cancers,and to observe the association among SUV and expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Aquaporin-1 (AQP-1).Methods PET/CT imaging data were analyzed retrospectively in 56 patients with cervical cancer before surgery.The mean SUV (SUV),maximum SUV (SUVmax) and peak SUV (SUVpeak) were measured,and immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of VEGF and AQP-1.The relationships of SUV and expression level of VEGF,AQP-1 and clinicopathological features were analyzed.Results SUV SUVpeak and expression level of VEGF and AQP-1 were significantly different in different FIGO stages (all P＜0.05).SUVpeak and expression level of VEGF in tumors with maximum diameter ≥ 4 cm were higher than those in patients with tumors maximum diameter ＜4 cm (both P ＜0.05).SUVpeak and expression level of VEGF and AQP-1 in tumors with cervical stromal invasion depth ≥1/2 were significantly higher than those with cervical stromal invasion depth ＜ 1/2 (all P＜ 0.05).The expression level of VEGF and AQP-1 in patients with lymph node metastasis were higher than those without lymph node metastasis (both P ＜0.05).SUVpeak was correlated with expression level of VEGF (rs =0.529,P＜0.001) and AQP-1 (rs =0.356,P =0.007).Conclusion Preoperative SUVpeak of cervical cancer measured with PET/CT is correlated with clinicopathological features and can be used to guide individual treatment of patients with cervical cancer.