Relationship between cancer cell proliferation, tumour angiogenesis and 201Tl uptake in non-small cell lung cancer

PURPOSETo investigate whether Tl uptake is associated with cell proliferation and angiogenesis in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). METHODSEighty-four patients with scheduled NSCLC underwent Tl single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging15 min (early scan) and 240 min (delayed scan) after intravenous injection of 111 MBq of Tl chloride. Tl indices were calculated on early images (early ratioER) and delayed images (delayed ratioDR). The retention index (RI) was also calculated from these two parameters. Using surgically resected cancer specimens (54 adenocarcinoma, 24 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), six large-cell carcinoma), immunohistochemical stains for both Ki-67 (MIB-1 index) and CD34 were performed to examine the proliferative activity and the micro-vessel density (MVD), respectively. RESULTSThe mean value of Tl index was 1.69±0.77 (ER) and 2.31±1.08 (DR). The average RI was 42.6±42.9%, respectively. Both DR and RI positively correlated with MIB-1 index (r=0.68, P