Objectives: Several studies have aimed to detect biomarkers in glioma using noninvasive imaging techniques. However, few studies have been able to image 1p/19q deletion by (11)C-methionine positron emission tomography ((11)C-methionine PET) or 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). This study examines the correlation between (11)C-methionine uptake and MGMT promoter methylation in grade II and grade III nonenhancing gliomas.
Patients and methods: Data was collected from 20 patients with grade II and III nonenhancing gliomas who underwent both MRI and (11)C-methionine PET as part of their pre-surgical examination. We examined MGMT promoter methylation by quantitative methylation-specific PCR.
Results: The mean MGMT promoter methylation for tumors with T/N ratios ≥1.6 was 28.0±26.3, and that for tumors with T/N ratios <1.6 was 0.68±0.89. The MGMT promoter methylation for tumors with T/N ratios ≥1.6 was significantly higher than that for tumors with T/N ratios <1.6 (P<0.05).
Conclusions: A higher uptake in (11)C-methionine PET may reflect increased MGMT promoter methylation. (11)C-methionine PET could be a useful tool to detect MGMT promoter methylation in nonenhancing glioma.
Keywords: (11)C-methionine positron emission tomography; Gliomas; MGMT promoter methylation.
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