FDG PET for evaluating the change of glucose metabolism in prostate cancerafter androgen ablation

In the clinical study of prostate cancer, the effect of androgen ablation o n glucose metabolism in cancer tissue has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in glucose utilization due to e ndocrine therapy for prostate adenocarcinoma. Ten patients with histologica lly proven prostate cancer were prospectively investigated with F-18-fluoro deoxyglucose and positron emission tomography (FDG PET) prior to and after the initiation of endocrine therapy. FDG uptake was calculated to measure g lucose utilization in cancer tissue. The change in FDG accumulation was com pared with changes in serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level and prost ate size. FDG accumulation in the prostate decreased in all patients 1-5 mo nths after the initiation of hormone therapy. The serum PSA level and prost ate size measured on computerized tomography (CT) also decreased in these p eriods. A decrease in FDG accumulation was also demonstrated in metastatic sites. In this study, there appeared to be a decrease in FDG uptake in pros tate cancer after endocrine therapy not only in primary prostate cancer les ions but also at metastatic sites, suggesting that the glucose utilization by tumours was suppressed by androgen ablation. ((C) 2001 Lippincott Willia ms & Wilkins).