Scholarlink

Objective <p>This study evaluated differences in the expression of proteins related to glucose metabolism and somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) between primary tumors and distant metastatic lesions in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).</p> Methods <p>We retrospectively analyzed 18 patients with DTC (mean age 56 ± 10 years) who had bone or soft tissue metastasis. Immunohistochemical staining of surgical specimens was performed to assess the expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1), hexokinase-2 (HK-2), and somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR-2). Protein expression was classified as negative, weakly positive, or strongly positive. Correlations between primary and metastatic lesions were evaluated using Spearman analysis. FDG SUVmax values were compared according to protein expression using the Mann–Whitney U test, and the association between iodine avidity and SSTR-2 expression was assessed using Fisher’s exact test.</p> Results <p>GLUT-1 expression was more frequent in metastatic lesions than in primary tumors (65% vs. 50%). HK-2 expression was high in both primary and metastatic lesions (94% each). SSTR-2 expression was similar between primary (50%) and metastatic lesions (41%). GLUT-1 expression demonstrated a marginal positive correlation between primary tumors and bone metastasis (<i>r</i> = 0.462, <i>p</i> = 0.062). After excluding primary tumors smaller than 1&#xa0;cm, significant correlations were observed for both GLUT-1 (<i>r</i> = 0.624, <i>p</i> = 0.023) and HK-2 (<i>r</i> = 0.695, <i>p</i> = 0.008), whereas SSTR-2 showed no significant correlation. Among patients who underwent surgery and <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT within one year, GLUT-1–positive metastatic lesions demonstrated significantly higher FDG SUVmax values than GLUT-1–negative lesions (<i>p</i> = 0.046). Among a small subset of evaluable iodine-non-avid metastatic lesions, preserved SSTR-2 expression was observed, although the association was not statistically significant.</p> Conclusion <p>GLUT-1 expression showed partial concordance between primary and metastatic DTC lesions and was associated with higher FDG uptake, which may reflect altered glucose metabolic activity. Although SSTR-2 expression was not associated with iodine avidity, its retention in a subset of iodine-refractory metastatic lesions may indicate a possible avenue for future investigation of SSTR-targeted imaging or radionuclide therapy in selected patients with advanced DTC.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Protein expression of glucose metabolism and somatostatin receptor between primary tumor and distant metastasis in differentiated thyroid cancer

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月21日

查看全文
  • Joon Ho Choi,
  • Jae Kyung Myung,
  • Ji Eun Moon,
  • Joon-Seog Kong,
  • Byung Hyun Byun,
  • Byung Il Kim,
  • Ilhan Lim

摘要

Objective

This study evaluated differences in the expression of proteins related to glucose metabolism and somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) between primary tumors and distant metastatic lesions in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 18 patients with DTC (mean age 56 ± 10 years) who had bone or soft tissue metastasis. Immunohistochemical staining of surgical specimens was performed to assess the expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1), hexokinase-2 (HK-2), and somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR-2). Protein expression was classified as negative, weakly positive, or strongly positive. Correlations between primary and metastatic lesions were evaluated using Spearman analysis. FDG SUVmax values were compared according to protein expression using the Mann–Whitney U test, and the association between iodine avidity and SSTR-2 expression was assessed using Fisher’s exact test.

Results

GLUT-1 expression was more frequent in metastatic lesions than in primary tumors (65% vs. 50%). HK-2 expression was high in both primary and metastatic lesions (94% each). SSTR-2 expression was similar between primary (50%) and metastatic lesions (41%). GLUT-1 expression demonstrated a marginal positive correlation between primary tumors and bone metastasis (r = 0.462, p = 0.062). After excluding primary tumors smaller than 1 cm, significant correlations were observed for both GLUT-1 (r = 0.624, p = 0.023) and HK-2 (r = 0.695, p = 0.008), whereas SSTR-2 showed no significant correlation. Among patients who underwent surgery and 18F-FDG PET/CT within one year, GLUT-1–positive metastatic lesions demonstrated significantly higher FDG SUVmax values than GLUT-1–negative lesions (p = 0.046). Among a small subset of evaluable iodine-non-avid metastatic lesions, preserved SSTR-2 expression was observed, although the association was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

GLUT-1 expression showed partial concordance between primary and metastatic DTC lesions and was associated with higher FDG uptake, which may reflect altered glucose metabolic activity. Although SSTR-2 expression was not associated with iodine avidity, its retention in a subset of iodine-refractory metastatic lesions may indicate a possible avenue for future investigation of SSTR-targeted imaging or radionuclide therapy in selected patients with advanced DTC.