FDG ACCUMULATION AND TUMOR BIOLOGY

The tumoral uptake of fluorine-18-deoxyglucose (FDG) is based upon enh anced glycolysis. Following injection, FDG is phosphorylated and trapp ed intracellularly, An important mechanism to transport FDG into the t ransformed cell is based upon the action of glucose transporter protei ns; furthermore; highly active hexokinase bound to tumor mitochondria helps to trap FDG into the cell. In addition, enhanced FDG uptake may be due to relative hypoxia in tumor masses, which activates the anaero bic glycolytic pathway. In spite of these processes, FDG uptake is rel atively aspecific since all living cells need glucose; Clinical use is therefore recommended in carefully selected patients. (C) 1998 Elsevi er Science Inc.