Pre-clinical quantitative imaging and mouse-specific dosimetry for In-labelled radiotracers.

Background: Accurate quantification in molecular imaging is essential to improve the assessment of novel drugs and compare the radiobiological effects of therapeutic agents prior to in-human studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges and feasibility of pre-clinical quantitative imaging and mouse-specific dosimetry of In-labelled radiotracers. Attenuation, scatter and partial volume effects were studied using phantom experiments, and an activity calibration curve was obtained for varying sphere sizes.

The biodistribution and radiation dosimetry of the Arg-Gly-Asp peptide 18F-AH111585 in healthy volunteers.

Unlabelled: We report the safety, biodistribution, and internal radiation dosimetry of a new PET tracer, (18)F-AH111585, a peptide with a high affinity for the alpha(v)beta(3) integrin receptor involved in angiogenesis.

Methods: PET scans of 8 healthy volunteers were acquired at time points up to 4 h after a bolus injection of (18)F-AH111585. (18)F activity in whole blood and plasma and excreted urine were measured up to 4 h after injection.

Phase I trial of the positron-emitting Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide radioligand 18F-AH111585 in breast cancer patients.

Unlabelled: The integrin alpha v beta3 receptor is upregulated on tumor cells and endothelium and plays important roles in angiogenesis and metastasis. Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide ligands have high affinity for these integrins and can be radiolabeled for PET imaging of angiogenesis or tumor development. We have assessed the safety, stability, and tumor distribution kinetics of a novel radiolabeled RGD-based integrin peptide-polymer conjugate, 18F-AH111585, and its feasibility to detect tumors in metastatic breast cancer patients using PET.

Absolute quantification of myocardial blood flow with H(2)(15)O and 3-dimensional PET: an experimental validation.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to assess a 3-dimensional (3D)-only PET scanner (ECAT EXACT3D) for its use in the absolute quantification of myocardial blood flow (MBF) using H(2)(15)O.

Methods: Nine large white pigs were scanned with H(2)(15)O and C(15)O before and after partially occluding the circumflex (n = 4) or the left anterior descending (n = 5) coronary artery at rest and during hyperemia induced by intravenous dipyridamole. Radioactive microspheres labeled with either (57)Co or (46)Sc were injected during each of the H(2)(15)O scans, which allowed comparison between microsphere and PET measurements of regional MBF.