Low glucose metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma with GPC3 expression

Figure 1 The relationship of¹⁸F-FDG uptake with GPC3 and GLUT1 expression, and the cellular ¹⁸F-FDG uptake assay. A and B: ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions with positive and negative GPC3 expression. (A) SUV_max: 6.01 ± 3.55 vs 9.56 ± 5.95, t = -2.341, P = 0.028; (B) T/NT ratio: 2.62 ± 1.55 vs 4.52 ± 2.92, t = -2.597, P = 0.017. C and D: ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in HCC lesions with high and low expression of GLUT1. (C) SUV_max: 13.58 ± 3.44 vs 5.57 ± 3.49, t = 6.898, P < 0.001; (D) T/NT ratio: 6.38 ± 1.91 vs 2.46 ± 1.55, t = 6.307, P < 0.001). E: ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in GPC3-expressing HepG2 cells and non-GPC3-expressing RH7777 cells (0.37% ± 0.05% vs 1.03% ± 0.04% of inputted radioactivity, t = -20.352, P < 0.001).

Figure 2 A 60-year-old woman with moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma positive for GPC3 expression (A-E) and a 38-year-old man with poorly differentiated HCC negative for GPC3 (G-J). A-C: ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT showed slight ¹⁸F-FDG uptake (SUV_max = 3.4, T/NT = 1.54) in the tumour (black arrow in A, white arrows in B and C). D: Moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was diagnosed by pathological examination using HE staining. E: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed positive expression of GPC3. F: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed low expression of GLUT1 in tumour tissue. G-I: ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scans showed intense accumulation of ¹⁸F-FDG (SUV_max = 16.5, T/NT = 7.03) in the tumour (black arrow in G, white arrows in H and I). J: Poorly differentiated HCC was confirmed by pathological examination using HE staining. K: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the tumour was negative for GPC3 expression. L: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed high GLUT1 expression in tumour tissue.