[(18)F]FDG uptake in thymic epithelial tumors is determined by the presence of glucose metabolism (GLUT1), hypoxia (HIF-1alpha), angiogenesis (VEGF and MVD), and cell cycle regulator (p53).

MUC1 is transmembrane mucin aberrantly overexpressed in various cancers. However, little is known about how MUC1 expression is associated with hypoxia, glucose metabolism, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway, which are related to cancer progression. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between MUC1 expression and these molecular markers in lung cancer. Of all 126 patients, high-grade polarized expression (HP), low-grade polarized expression (LP), and depolarized expression (DP) group were 50 (39.7%), 35 (27.8%), and 41 (32.5%), respectively. Depolarized MUC1 expression was significantly associated with poor outcome and was closely correlated with glucose metabolism (Glut1), hypoxia (HIF-1α), angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor and microvessel density), amino acid metabolism (LAT1), and EGFR expression. High-grade polarized MUC1 expression was associated with favorable prognosis and adenocarcinoma. Depolarized MUC1 expression was significantly associated with poor outcome. Glucose metabolism, hypoxia, angiogenesis, amino acid metabolism, and EGFR pathway may play an important role in the development of depolarized MUC1 expression.

Surgical resection is an important modality in the treatment of pulmonary metastases from various solid tumors. The criteria for pulmonary metastasectomy are as follows: (1) the patient must be a good risk for surgical intervention; (2) the primary malignancy is controlled; (3) there is no other, extrapulmonary, metastasis; and (4) the pulmonary lesions are thought to be completely resectable. The appropriate selection of candidates according to these criteria leads to an overall 5-year survival after pulmonary metastasectomy of about 30%-40%. However, most of the reported results are retrospective analyses, and the significance of pulmonary metastasectomy seems to vary according to the primary malignancy. To clarify the significance of surgical treatment for pulmonary metastases, we need further analysis of various prognostic factors, with special reference to each primary malignancy, as well as a multiinstitutional study, and randomized prospective studies, if possible.

Segmentectomy demonstrated a good efficacy with less resection-margin recurrence in patients with resectable pulmonary-limited metastasis from colorectal cancer.