Additional Prognostic Value of SUVmax Measured by F-18 FDG PET/CT over Biological Marker Expressions in Surgically Resected Cervical Cancer Patients

Purpose: We compared the prognostic ability of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max ) and various biological marker expressions to predict recurrence in patients with surgically resected cervical cancer. Methods: A retrospective review identified 60 patients with cervical cancer who received [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18 FDG PET/CT) at the time of the diagnosis of cancer. The SUV max , expressions of carbonic anhydrase-IX (CA-IX), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and known prognostic factors were investigated. Results: The median follow-up time was 22.2 months (range 3.4-43.1 months). Using univariate analyses, the stage (stage II, p = 0.0066), SUV max (> 6, p = 0.027), parametrial involvement (p < 0.0001), and positivity for CA-IX (p = 0.0191) were associated with recurrences of cervical cancer. With the Cox proportional hazard regression model, the SUV max was a potent predictor for disease-free survival (DFS). Conclusion: Although CA-IX expression was related to DFS in the current study, the potent predictor for DFS was SUV max . Therefore, SUV max is of greater prognostic value than biological marker expression in patients with surgically resected cervical cancer.