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WE‐D‐210A‐04: Novel PET Probes to Image the Immune System and Cancer — From Discovery to Clinical Applications
Author(s) -
Radu C
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.3182549
Subject(s) - immune system , positron emission tomography , molecular imaging , cancer , medicine , autoimmunity , cancer research , immunology , biology , nuclear medicine , in vivo , microbiology and biotechnology
Monitoring immune function using molecular imaging could significantly impact the diagnosis and treatment evaluation of immunological disorders and therapeutic immune responses. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a molecular imaging modality with applications in cancer and other diseases. PET studies of immune function have been limited by a lack of specialized probes. We identified [18F]FAC (1‐(2′‐deoxy‐2′‐[18F]fluoroarabinofuranosyl) cytosine) by differential screening as a new PET probe for the deoxyribonucleotide salvage pathway. [18F]FAC PET enabled visualization of lymphoid organs and was sensitive to localized immune activation in a mouse model of anti‐tumor immunity. [18F]FAC microPET also detected early changes in lymphoid mass in systemic autoimmunity and allowed evaluation of immunosuppressive therapy. We have also developed a series of [18F]FAC analogs with improved pharmacokinetic properties. Data in animal models and preliminary studies in humans support the use of [18F]FAC and its analogs for immune monitoring by PET and suggest a wide range of clinical applications in immune disorders and in certain types of cancer. Research sponsored in part by Sofie Biosciences through a UC Discovery grant.