[18F]FLT PET for non-invasive monitoring of early response to gene therapy in experimental gliomas.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of 3'-deoxy-3'-[¹⁸F]fluorothymidine ([¹⁸F]FLT) positron emission tomography (PET) to detect early treatment responses in gliomas. Human glioma cells were stably transduced with genes yielding therapeutic activity, sorted for different levels of exogenous gene expression, and implanted subcutaneously into nude mice. Multimodality imaging during prodrug therapy included (a) magnetic resonance imaging, (b) PET with 9-(4-[¹⁸F]fluoro-3-hydroxymethylbutyl)guanine assessing exogenous gene expression, and (c) repeat [¹⁸F]FLT PET assessing antiproliferative therapeutic response.

Matrix-metalloproteinases as imaging targets for inflammatory activity in atherosclerotic plaques.

Cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction or stroke resulting from atherosclerosis still account for the majority of deaths worldwide. New imaging approaches focusing on the visualization of inflammation in the vessel wall may emerge as tools for individualized risk assessment and prevention of events. Enzymes such as matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in several steps in plaque progression driving plaques into vulnerable, rupture-prone states.