Positron emission tomography in oncology

Abstract

Increasing access to positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) has resulted in a shift towards functional imaging, being the primary tool in the assessment of viable tumour in oncology patients. In this review, we discuss the basic principles of this evolving technology and the radio-isotopes it employs. The main clinical applications of PET-CT are reviewed and some of the limitations of the technique are highlighted. Finally, we offer insight into possible future developments and how these modify current practice.

Dysfunctional oxidative phosphorylation makes malignant melanoma cells addicted to glycolysis driven by the V600EBRAF oncogene

“…Notably, metastatic melanomas are well detected by positron emission tomography (PET) on the basis of their avid uptake of 18F-FDG [46], and a glycolytic phenotype was recently associated with malignant melanoma cell lines by metabolic profiling [47]. These findings are in agreement with the basic metabolic characteristics observed in the two melanoma cell lines used in our study.…”

Radiosynthesis,in vitroand preliminaryin vivoevaluation of the novel glutamine derived PET tracers [18F]fluorophenylglutamine and [18F]fluorobiphenylglutamine

“…The tert-butyl and N-boc protection groups of compound 1 were removed using procedure B, to obtain compound 5, a white powder, in quantitative yields. 1…”

“…The tert-butyl and N-boc protection groups of compound 3 were removed using procedure B, to obtain compound 6, a white powder, with quantitative yields. 1 The chemical labelling of compounds 2 and 4 with fluorine-18 was done via an aromatic fluorination method described by Beyzavi et al 24 . The fluoride used for these reactions was produced in a cyclone L-glutamine and penicillin/streptomycin (50 U/mL).…”

“…While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) visualize tumor anatomy, the addition of nuclear medicine provides a more functional understanding. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine technique for biomedical imaging that uses radiotracers interacting with some of the hallmarks in cancer, making it possible to visualize what is happening on a molecular level [1][2][3] . A successful example of such a PET radiotracer is [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([ 18 F]FDG).…”

Radiosynthesis, in vitro and preliminary in vivo evaluation of the novel glutamine derived PET tracers [18F]fluorophenylglutamine and [18F]fluorobiphenylglutamine

“…While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) visualize tumor anatomy, the addition of nuclear medicine provides a more functional understanding. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine technique for biomedical imaging that uses radiotracers interacting with some of the hallmarks in cancer, making it possible to visualize what is happening on a molecular level [1][2][3] . A successful example of such a PET radiotracer is [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([ 18 F]FDG).…”