18F-RGD PET/CT imaging reveals characteristics of angiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Significant differences in ATV and TLA were observed among T1, T2, T3 and T4 cases (ATV, P=0.000; TLA, P=0.000). ATV and TLA also differed significantly among cases of clinical stage I, II, III and IV (ATV, P=0.002; TLA, P=0.011). However, no significant differences in any values were observed between stage III and IV NSCLC cases (SUV_peak, P=0.675; SUV_mean, P=0.668; ATV, P=0.52; TLA, P=0.634). All assessed values were higher in squamous cell carcinoma cases than in adenocarcinoma cases (SUV_peak, P=0.045; SUV_mean, P=0.014; ATV, P=0.003; TLA, P=0.001). For clinical stage III and IV cases specifically, SUV_peak, SUV_mean, and TLA were higher for squamous cell carcinoma than for adenocarcinoma (SUV_peak, P=0.015; SUV_mean, P=0.009; TLA, P=0.036).C<b>onclusions:</b> ¹⁸F-RGD PET/CT imaging revealed the presence of increased angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment of NSCLC, especially squamous cell carcinoma, and thus may be valuable in planning therapeutic regimens for individual patients.