PERIPHERAL BENZODIAZEPINE RECEPTORS AND GLUCOSE-METABOLISM IN HUMAN GLIOMAS

Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PER) are increased in gliomas and augmented glucose metabolism is seen in malignant brain tumors. We in vestigated the relationship between PER density (B-max) and glucose ut ilization rate (GUR) in 17 patients with cerebral gliomas of different grades. PER B-max was assessed by [H-3]PK-11195 in vitro binding in s urgical specimens and GUR was measured by Positron Emission Tomography with [F-18]2-Fluorodeoxyglucose before the surgery. In untreated tumo rs there was a positive correlation between PER B-max and GUR (2(r) = 0.84). This correlation was not observed in patients who had been trea ted with radiation and/or chemotherapy prior to surgery (r(2) = 0.13). In addition, in untreated patients, the increase in PER density and G UR appeared to be related to the degree of malignancy.