Specific detection of type II human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit produced by trophoblastic and neoplastic cells.

Background: The sequence of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCGβ) varies depending on whether hCGβ is encoded by type I or type II genes. Type II genes are upregulated in trophoblast and cancer but hCGβ can be detected in the serum of nonpregnant women and healthy individuals. We aimed to determine whether monoclonal antibody (mAb) FBT11-II specifically detects hCGβ encoded by type II genes (type II hCGβ).

Immuno-SPET/CT and immuno-PET/CT: a step ahead to translational imaging.

Malignant tumours have the remarkable property to express cell surface antigens. Pressman was first reporting that radiolabeled antibodies were capable of organ localization. It was a promising challenge but the expected success and the development of this imaging method was limited by a poor imaging resolution despite a rather good specificity of the antibodies used.

A randomized, dose-response, multicenter phase II study of radium-223 chloride for the palliation of painful bone metastases in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Purpose: To investigate the dose-response relationship and pain-relieving effect of radium-223, a highly bone-targeted alpha-pharmaceutical.

Methods: One hundred patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and painful bone metastases were randomized to a single intravenous dose of 5, 25, 50 or 100 k Bq/kg radium-223. The primary end-point was pain index (visual analogue scale [VAS] and analgesic use), also used to classify patients as responders or non-responders.

Assessment of response to endocrine therapy using FDG PET/CT in metastatic breast cancer: a pilot study.

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to assess whether outcome in metastatic or recurrent breast cancer patients is related to metabolic response to endocrine therapy determined by (18)F-FDG PET/CT.

Methods: The study group comprised 22 patients with breast cancer (age 58 ± 11 years, mean ± SD) who were scheduled to receive endocrine therapy. They were systematically assessed by PET/CT at baseline and after a mean of 10 ± 4 weeks for evaluation of response after induction.

Single photon emission tomography/computed tomography (SPET/CT) and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) to image cancer.

Hybrid systems associating the sharpness of anatomic images coming from computed tomography (CT) and radionuclide functional imaging (SPET or PET) are opening a new era in oncology. This multimodal imaging method is now routinely used for the diagnosis, extent, follow up, treatment response and detection of occult disease in different types of malignancies with a significant impact on the treatment strategy leading for a change for more than 68% of all investigated patients.