44Sc-DOTA-BN[2-14]NH2 in comparison to 68Ga-DOTA-BN[2-14]NH2 in pre-clinical investigation. Is 44Sc a potential radionuclide for PET?

Aim: In the present study we demonstrate the in vitro and in vivo comparison of the (44)Sc and (68)Ga labeled DOTA-BN[2-14]NH(2). (44)Sc is a positron emitter with a half life of 3.92 h.

Alzheimer's disease: spect and pet tracers for beta-amyloid imaging.

The definite diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is based on the detection of beta amyloid (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) - which are the pathological hallmarks of the disease- in the postmortem brains. Although regional Cerebral Blood Flow (rCBF) and Cerebral Glucose Metabolism (CGM) abnormalities have already been studied in AD patients with Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), the development of specific imaging agents for direct mapping of Aβ plaques in the living brain, is a great challenge. Aβ probes could significantly contribute to the early diagnosis of AD, the elucidation of the underlying neuropathological processes and the evaluation of anti-amyloid therapies which are currently under investigation.

Comparative study on DOTA-derivatized bombesin analog labeled with 90Y and 177Lu: in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to compare in vitro and in vivo a novel DOTA-chelated bombesin (BN) analog of the amino acid sequence, QRLGNQWAVGHLM-CONH(2) (BN[2-14]NH(2)), labeled with (90)Y and (177)Lu, for its potential use in targeted radiotherapy of tumors expressing gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) receptors. The same amino acid sequence, but with different chelator, referred as BN1.1 (Gly-Gly-Cys-Aca-QRLGNQWAVGHLM-CONH(2)), has already been studied and reported; however, the DOTA-chelated one, suitable for labeling with M(+3) type radiometals, was not yet described.

Structural assessment and biological evaluation of two N3S bombesin derivatives.

The aim of the present study is the evaluation of the (99m)Tc complexes of two bombesin-like peptides: Gly1'-Gly2'-Cys3'-Aca-BN[2-14] (BN-1.1) and Gly1'-Gly2'-Cys3'-Aca-BN[7-14] (BN-1.1p).

Spacer site modifications for the improvement of the in vitro and in vivo binding properties of (99m)Tc-N(3)S-X-bombesin[2-14] derivatives.

It has been shown that gastrin releasing peptide receptors (GRPRs) are overexpressed in various types of cancer cells. Bombesin is an analogue of the mammalian GRP that binds with high specificity and affinity to GRPRs. Significant research efforts have been lately devoted to the design of radiolabeled 8 or 14 aminoacid bombesin (BN) peptides for the detection (either with gamma or positron emitting radionuclides) and therapy (with beta(-) emitting radionuclides) of cancer.