Prognostic value of metabolic parameters measured by (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography in surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer patients

(18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography-derived metabolic parameters can play a role in prognostication. We investigated the prognostic value of various metabolic parameters such as maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)), mean SUV (SUV(mean)), whole-body metabolic tumor volume (WBMTV), and whole-body total lesion glycolysis (WBTLG) in surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We retrospectively reviewed 153 patients with NSCLC who underwent surgical resection. The SUV(max), SUV(mean), WBMTV, and WBTLG of the tumor were measured. Continuous PET parameters were stratified by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Prognostic factors were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model. The median follow-up was 36.9 months. Fifty-six patients died and 78 patients had recurrence. On univariate analysis, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage; male sex; no adjuvant treatment; and higher SUV(max), SUV(mean), WBMTV, and WBTLG were statistically significant and were associated with poor overall survival (OS). TNM stage; no adjuvant treatment; and higher SUV(max), SUV mean, WBMTV, and WBTLG were statistically significant and were associated with poor disease-free survival (DFS). On multivariate analysis, higher WBTLG (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.08, P = 0.007) for DFS and higher WBTLG (HR = 2.70, P = 0.041) and TNM staging (HR = 1.63, P = 0.035) for OS were statistically significant. Whole-body tumor burden assessment with TLG has independent prognostic value in patients with operated lung cancer. Incorporation of TLG into clinical practice can identify patients benefitted from additional therapy.