In the present study, a higher SUVmax of the primary tumor was associated with higher histological grade, tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, LVI, and worse survival, as was also the case for increased Nrf2 expression, indicating that increased glucose uptake and acceleration of glycolysis were related to more aggressive behavior of UTUC. Here, NFE2L2 is linked to metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.