Combined PET Radiotracer Approach Reveals Insights into Stromal Cell-Induced Metabolic Changes in Pancreatic Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo.

Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are producing extracellular matrix, which promotes the formation of a dense fibrotic microenvironment. This makes PDAC a highly heterogeneous tumor-stroma-driven entity, associated with reduced perfusion, limited oxygen supply, high interstitial fluid pressure, and limited bioavailability of therapeutic agents. In this study, spheroid and tumor xenograft models of human PSCs and PanC-1 cells were characterized radiopharmacologically using a combined positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer approach.

Position paper to facilitate patient access to radiopharmaceuticals: considerations for a suitable pharmaceutical regulatory framework.

Background: Nuclear medicine has made enormous progress in the past decades. However, there are still significant inequalities in patient access among different countries, which could be mitigated by improving access to and availability of radiopharmaceuticals.

Main Body: This paper summarises major considerations for a suitable pharmaceutical regulatory framework to facilitate patient access to radiopharmaceuticals.

Highlight selection of radiochemistry and radiopharmacy developments by editorial board.

Background: The Editorial Board of EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry releases a biannual highlight commentary to update the readership on trends in the field of radiopharmaceutical development.

Main Body: This selection of highlights provides commentary on 21 different topics selected by each coauthoring Editorial Board member addressing a variety of aspects ranging from novel radiochemistry to first-in-human application of novel radiopharmaceuticals.

Conclusion: Trends in radiochemistry and radiopharmacy are highlighted.

Synthesis of [F]FMISO, a hypoxia-specific imaging probe for PET, an overview from a radiochemist's perspective.

Background: [F]fluoromisonidazole ([F]FMISO, 1H-1-(3-[F]fluoro-2-hydroxypropyl)-2-nitroimidazole) is a commonly used radiotracer for imaging hypoxic conditions in cells. Since hypoxia is prevalent in solid tumors, [F]FMISO is in clinical application for decades to explore oxygen demand in cancer cells and the resulting impact on radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Results: Since the introduction of [F]FMISO as positron emission tomography imaging agent in 1986, a variety of radiosynthesis procedures for the production of this hypoxia tracer has been developed.

Cyclotrons Operated for Nuclear Medicine and Radiopharmacy in the German Speaking D-A-CH Countries: An Update on Current Status and Trends.

Background: Cyclotrons form a central infrastructure and are a resource of medical radionuclides for the development of new radiotracers as well as the production and supply of clinically established radiopharmaceuticals for patient care in nuclear medicine.

Aim: To provide an updated overview of the number and characteristics of cyclotrons that are currently in use within radiopharmaceutical sciences and for the development of radiopharmaceuticals to be used for patient care in Nuclear Medicine in Germany (D), Austria (A) and Switzerland (CH).

Methods: Publicly available information on the cyclotron infrastructure was (i) consolidated and updated, (ii) supplemented by selective desktop research and, last but not least, (iii) validated by members of the committee of the academic "Working Group Radiochemistry and Radiopharmacy" (AGRR), consisting of radiochemists and radiopharmacists of the D-A-CH countries and belonging to the German Society of Nuclear Medicine (DGN), as well as the Radiopharmaceuticals Committee of the DGN.

EANM guideline on quality risk management for radiopharmaceuticals.

This document is intended as a supplement to the EANM "Guidelines on current Good Radiopharmacy Practice (cGRPP)" issued by the Radiopharmacy Committee of the EANM (Gillings et al. in EJNMMI Radiopharm Chem. 6:8, 2021).

EANM position on the in-house preparation of radiopharmaceuticals.

The EANM herewith clearly expresses its commitment and support to the non-commercial in-house preparation of radiopharmaceuticals for direct use in accordance with European and national regulations.