Influence of Thyroid Transcription Factor-1 on Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake and Prognosis of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

AIM: To assess the correlation between thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF1) protein expression in primary tumors from patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake, and to determine its effect on survival outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We categorized 112 patients with NSCLC according to TTF1 expression (TTF1(+): n=59, TTF1(-): n=53), and retrospectively determined whether positron-emission topography measurements, including standardized uptake values [mean (SUVm) and maximum (SUVmax)], metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and other clinical factors could predict progression-free (PFS) or overall (OS) survival of these patients. RESULTS: The SUVm, SUVmax, MTV, and TLG values were lower in the TTF1(+) group; their survival outcomes were also better. The SUVm, SUVmax, and TLG values were good prognostic indicators for OS and PFS in this group. CONCLUSION: Primary NSCLC tumors expressing TTF1 had lower FDG uptake than those that did not and this was a good prognostic indicator.