Assessment of coronary flow reserve using a combination of planar first-pass angiography and myocardial SPECT: Comparison with myocardial (15)O-water PET.

Unlabelled: Coronary flow reserve (CFR), defined as the ratio of maximum coronary flow increase from baseline resting blood flow, is one of the most sensitive parameters to detect early signs of coronary arteriosclerosis at the microvascular level. Myocardial perfusion PET is a well-established technology for CFR measurement, however, availability is still limited. The aim of this study is to introduce and validate myocardial flow reserve measurement by myocardial perfusion SPECT.

11C-Methionine PET of Myocardial Inflammation in a Rat Model of Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis.

Unlabelled: Myocarditis represents a major cause of dilated cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac death in younger adults. Currently, definitive diagnosis of myocarditis requires endomyocardial biopsy, which is highly invasive and has the drawback of variable sensitivity due to inherent sampling error. Therefore, reliable noninvasive methods to detect and monitor cardiac inflammation are clinically relevant.

[Diagnostics in osteology].

Clinical diagnostics in metabolic bone diseases cover a broad spectrum of conventional and state of the art methods ranging from the medical history and clinical examination to molecular imaging. Patient treatment is carried out in an interdisciplinary team due to the multiple interactions of bone with other organ systems. Diagnosis of osteoporosis is supported by high level national guidelines.

Thyroglobulin fluctuations in patients with iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma on lenvatinib treatment - initial experience.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have shown clinical effectiveness in iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The corresponding role of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) in iodine-refractory DTC has not been investigated yet. 9 patients (3 female, 61 ± 8y) with progressive iodine-refractory DTC starting on lenvatinib were considered.

The impact of 177Lu-octreotide therapy on 99mTc-MAG3 clearance is not predictive for late nephropathy.

Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors may lead to kidney deterioration. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc--MAG3) clearance for the early detection of PRRT-induced changes on tubular extraction (TE). TE rate (TER) was measured prior to 128 PRRT cycles (7.

Assessment of tumor heterogeneity in treatment-naïve adrenocortical cancer patients using (18)F-FDG positron emission tomography.

As an orphan malignancy, only limited treatment options are available in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Non-invasive risk assessment has not been described but may be of value to stratify patients for treatment. We aimed to evaluate the potential value of intra-individual tumor heterogeneity as assessed by (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for outcome prediction in treatment-naïve ACC patients.

Cardiac Manifestation of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Here, we report on a 38-year-old man with unclear right heart failure. Imaging with cardiac MRI and combined PET/CT with F-FDG revealed a hypermetabolic mass extending from the right ventricle to the atrium. In addition, intense glucose utilization throughout the bone marrow was noted.

A GRP78-Directed Monoclonal Antibody Recaptures Response in Refractory Multiple Myeloma with Extramedullary Involvement.

Purpose: Glucose-regulated protein (GRP) 78 is overexpressed in multiple myeloma, and both its surface expression and its biologic significance as key sensor of the unfolded protein response make GRP78 an ideal candidate for immunotherapeutic intervention. The monoclonal antibody PAT-SM6 targets surface GRP78 and leads to disease stabilization when used as single agent in a clinical trial. In this article, we evaluated expression of GRP78 in relapsed-refractory disease and explored PAT-SM6 therapy in combination regimens.

Initial Preclinical Evaluation of 18F-Fluorodeoxysorbitol PET as a Novel Functional Renal Imaging Agent.

Unlabelled: Accurate assessment of kidney function plays an essential role for optimal clinical decision making in a variety of diseases. The major intrinsic advantages of PET are superior spatial and temporal resolutions for quantitative tomographic renal imaging. 2-deoxy-2-F-fluorodeoxysorbitol (F-FDS) is an analog of sorbitol that is reported to be freely filtered at the renal glomerulus without reabsorption at the tubule.

68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT in Patients With Biochemical Prostate Cancer Recurrence and Negative 18F-Choline-PET/CT.

Purpose: Investigating the value of Ga-PSMA-PET/CT in biochemically recurring prostate cancer patients with negative F-choline-PET/CT.

Patients And Methods: One hundred thirty-nine consecutive patients with biochemical recurrence after curative (surgery and/or radiotherapy) therapy were offered participation in this sequential clinical imaging approach. Patients first underwent an F-choline-PET/CT.

Somatostatin receptor expression in small cell lung cancer as a prognostic marker and a target for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy.

Despite initial responsiveness to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) commonly relapses within months. Although neuroendocrine characteristics may be difficult to demonstrate in individual cases, a relevant expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTR) on the cell surface has been described. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of SSTR-expression in advanced SCLC.

Recurrent Extrahepatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma Detected by 18F-Choline PET/CT.

Diagnosis of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is sometimes challenging, especially when extrahepatic disease is present. Here, we report on a 49-year-old woman with a history of HCC who was referred to our institution with suspicion of tumor recurrence for further workup. Combined F-choline PET/CT revealed a soft tissue mass at the right thoracic wall highly consistent with HCC.

(68)Ga-Pentixafor-PET/CT for Imaging of Chemokine Receptor 4 Expression in Glioblastoma.

Chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4) has been reported to be overexpressed in glioblastoma (GBM) and to be associated with poor survival. This study investigated the feasibility of non-invasive CXCR4-directed imaging with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using the radiolabelled chemokine receptor ligand (68)Ga-Pentixafor. 15 patients with clinical suspicion on primary or recurrent glioblastoma (13 primary, 2 recurrent tumors) underwent (68)Ga-Pentixafor-PET/CT for assessment of CXCR4 expression prior to surgery.

11C-Methionine-PET in Multiple Myeloma: Correlation with Clinical Parameters and Bone Marrow Involvement.

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an essentially incurable hematologic malignancy originating from clonal plasma cells. This study evaluated the usefulness of the radiotracers (11)C-methionine (MET) and (18)F-2`-deoxy-2`-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) for staging and re-staging in MM. 43 patients with MM underwent both MET- and FDG-PET/CT for staging or re-staging within 3±2 days.

[68Ga]Pentixafor-PET/CT for imaging of chemokine receptor 4 expression in small cell lung cancer--initial experience.

Chemokine receptor CXCR4 is a key factor for tumor growth and metastasis in several types of human cancer. This study investigated the feasibility of CXCR4-directed imaging of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using the radiolabelled chemokine ligand [68Ga]Pentixafor. 10 patients with primarily diagnosed (n=3) or pre-treated (n=7) SCLC (n=9) or large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung (LCNEC, n=1) underwent [68Ga]Pentixafor-PET/CT.

Association of mitotane with chylomicrons and serum lipoproteins: practical implications for treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma.

Objective: Oral mitotane (o,p'-DDD) is a cornerstone of medical treatment for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC).

Aim: Serum mitotane concentrations >14  mg/l are targeted for improved efficacy but not achieved in about half of patients. Here we aimed at a better understanding of intestinal absorption and lipoprotein association of mitotane and metabolites o,p'-dichlorodiphenylacetic acid (o,p'-DDA) and o,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (o,p'-DDE).

First-in-Human Experience of CXCR4-Directed Endoradiotherapy with 177Lu- and 90Y-Labeled Pentixather in Advanced-Stage Multiple Myeloma with Extensive Intra- and Extramedullary Disease.

Unlabelled: Chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is a key factor for tumor growth and metastasis in several types of human cancer. Based on promising experiences with a radiolabeled CXCR4 ligand ((68)Ga-pentixafor) for diagnostic receptor targeting, (177)Lu- and (90)Y-pentixather were recently developed as endoradiotherapeutic vectors. Here, we summarize the first-in-human experience in 3 heavily pretreated patients with intramedullary and extensive extramedullary manifestations of multiple myeloma undergoing CXCR4-directed endoradiotherapy.

DNA Damage in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes of Thyroid Cancer Patients After Radioiodine Therapy.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to investigate DNA double-strand break (DSB) formation and its correlation to the absorbed dose to the blood in patients with surgically treated differentiated thyroid cancer undergoing their first radioiodine therapy for remnant ablation.

Methods: Twenty patients were included in this study. At least 7 peripheral blood samples were obtained before and between 0.

Prognostic Value of Serum Tumor Markers in Medullary Thyroid Cancer Patients Undergoing Vandetanib Treatment.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as vandetanib have shown clinical effectiveness in advanced medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). During TKI treatment, fluctuations in the tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and calcitonin (CTN) are frequently observed. Their role for treatment monitoring and the decision-making process has not been fully elucidated yet.

Activation of brown adipose tissue in hypothyroidism.

Background: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) attracts growing interest as a potential therapeutic target for obesity and diabetes. Hyperthyroidism is well-known to increase BAT activity, but the role of hypothyroidism is controversial. We aimed to investigate the association between different thyroid hormone (TH) states and BAT activity.

Early [18F]FET-PET in Gliomas after Surgical Resection: Comparison with MRI and Histopathology.

Background: The precise definition of the post-operative resection status in high-grade gliomas (HGG) is crucial for further management. We aimed to assess the feasibility of assessment of the resection status with early post-operative positron emission tomography (PET) using [18F]O-(2-[18F]-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine ([18F]FET).

Methods: 25 patients with the suspicion of primary HGG were enrolled.

Tumour delineation in oesophageal cancer - A prospective study of delineation in PET and CT with and without endoscopically placed clip markers.

Purpose: The objective was to analyse the value of F-18-fluorodesoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for delineation of the Gross Tumour Volumes (GTVs) in primary radiotherapy of oesophageal cancer.

Method: 20 consecutive and prospective patients (13 men, 7 women) underwent FDG-PET/CT for initial staging and radiation treatment planning. After endoscopy-guided clipping of the tumour another CT study was acquired.

Sympathetic nerve damage and restoration after ischemia-reperfusion injury as assessed by (11)C-hydroxyephedrine.

Purpose: An altered state of the cardiac sympathetic nerves is an important prognostic factor in patients with coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to investigate regional sympathetic nerve damage and restoration utilizing a rat model of myocardial transient ischemia and a catecholamine analog PET tracer, (11)C-hydroxyephedrine ((11)C-HED).

Methods: Transient myocardial ischemia was induced by coronary occlusion for 20 min and reperfusion in male Wistar rats.

Retention Kinetics of the 18F-Labeled Sympathetic Nerve PET Tracer LMI1195: Comparison with 11C-Hydroxyephedrine and 123I-MIBG.

Unlabelled: (18)F-N-[3-bromo-4-(3-fluoro-propoxy)-benzyl]-guanidine ((18)F-LMI1195) is a new PET tracer designed for noninvasive assessment of sympathetic innervation of the heart. The (18)F label facilitates the imaging advantages of PET over SPECT technology while allowing centralized manufacturing. Highly specific neural uptake of (18)F-LMI1195 has previously been established, but the retention kinetics are not yet fully understood.