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Institute
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin (91) (remove)
Sonstige beteiligte Institutionen
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (16)
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- Department of Biomedical Imaging, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Research Center, Suita, Japan (2)
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- Institut for Molecular Biology and CMBI, Department of Genomics, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (2)
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EU-Project number / Contract (GA) number
- 701983 (35)
We aimed to elucidate the diagnostic potential of the C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)-directed positron emission tomography (PET) tracer \(^{68}\)Ga-Pentixafor in patients with poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC), relative to the established reference standard \(^{18}\)F-FDG PET/computed tomography (CT). In our database, we retrospectively identified 11 treatment-naïve patients with histologically proven NEC, who underwent \(^{18}\)F-FDG and CXCR4-directed PET/CT for staging and therapy planning. The images were analyzed on a per-patient and per-lesion basis and compared to immunohistochemical staining (IHC) of CXCR4 from PET-guided biopsies. \(^{68}\)Ga-Pentixafor visualized tumor lesions in 10/11 subjects, while \(^{18}\)F-FDG revealed sites of disease in all 11 patients. Although weak to moderate CXCR4 expression could be corroborated by IHC in 10/11 cases, \(^{18}\)F-FDG PET/CT detected significantly more tumor lesions (102 vs. 42; total lesions, n = 107; p < 0.001). Semi-quantitative analysis revealed markedly higher 18F-FDG uptake as compared to \(^{68}\)Ga-Pentixafor (maximum and mean standardized uptake values (SUV) and tumor-to-background ratios (TBR) of cancerous lesions, SUVmax: 12.8 ± 9.8 vs. 5.2 ± 3.7; SUVmean: 7.4 ± 5.4 vs. 3.1 ± 3.2, p < 0.001; and, TBR 7.2 ± 7.9 vs. 3.4 ± 3.0, p < 0.001). Non-invasive imaging of CXCR4 expression in NEC is inferior to the reference standard \(^{18}\)F-FDG PET/CT.
Despite histological evidence in various solid tumor entities, available experience with CXCR4-directed diagnostics and endoradiotherapy mainly focuses on hematologic diseases. With the goal of expanding the application of CXCR4 theranostics to solid tumors, we aimed to elucidate the feasibility of CXCR4-targeted imaging in a variety of such neoplasms.
Methods: Nineteen patients with newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve solid tumors including pancreatic adenocarcinoma or neuroendocrine tumor, cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer underwent [\(^{68}\)Ga]Pentixafor PET/CT. CXCR4-mediated uptake was assessed both visually and semi-quantitatively by evaluation of maximum standardized uptake values (SUV\(_{max}\)) of both primary tumors and metastases. With physiologic liver uptake as reference, tumor-to-background ratios (TBR) were calculated. [\(^{68}\)Ga]Pentixafor findings were further compared to immunohistochemistry and [\(^{18}\)F]FDG PET/CT.
Results: On [\(^{68}\)Ga]Pentixafor PET/CT, 10/19 (52.6%) primary tumors were visually detectable with a median SUVmax of 5.4 (range, 1.7–16.0) and a median TBR of 2.6 (range, 0.8–7.4), respectively. The highest level of radiotracer uptake was identified in a patient with cholangiocarcinoma (SUVmax, 16.0; TBR, 7.4). The relatively low uptake on [\(^{68}\)Ga]Pentixafor was also noted in metastases, exhibiting a median SUVmax of 4.5 (range, 2.3–8.8; TBR, 1.7; range, 1.0–4.1). A good correlation between uptake on [\(^{68}\)Ga]Pentixafor and histological derived CXCR4 expression was noted (R = 0.62, P < 0.05). In the 3 patients in whom [\(^{18}\)F]FDG PET/CT was available, [\(^{68}\)Ga]Pentixafor exhibited lower uptake in all lesions.
Conclusions: In this cohort of newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve patients with solid malignancies, CXCR4 expression as detected by [\(^{68}\)Ga]Pentixafor-PET/CT and immunohistochemistry was rather moderate. Thus, CXCR4-directed imaging may not play a major role in the management of solid tumors in the majority of patients.
C-X-C-motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is a key factor for tumor growth and metastasis in several types of human cancer. We have recently reported promising first-in-man experience with CXCR4-directed endoradiotherapy (ERT) in multiple myeloma (MM).
Eight heavily pretreated MM patients underwent a total of 10 ERT cycles (7 patients with 1 cycle and a single patient with 3 cycles). ERT was administered in combination with chemotherapy and autologous stem cell support. End points were occurrence and timing of adverse events, progression-free and overall survival.
ERT was overall well tolerated without any unexpected acute adverse events or changes in vital signs. With absorbed tumor doses >30-70 Gy in intra- or extramedullary lesions, significant anti-myeloma activity was observed with 1 patient achieving complete remission and 5/8 partial remission. Directly after ERT major infectious complications were seen in one patient who died from sepsis 22 days after ERT, another patient with high tumor burden experienced lethal tumor lysis syndrome. Median progression-free survival was 54 days (range, 13-175), median overall survival was 223 days (range, 13-313). During follow-up (6 patients available), one patient died from infectious complications, 2/8 from disease progression, the remaining 3/8 patients are still alive.
CXCR4-directed ERT was well-tolerated and exerted anti-myeloma activity even at very advanced stage MM with presence of extramedullary disease. Further assessment of this novel treatment option is highly warranted.
In recent years, a paradigm shift from single-photon-emitting radionuclide radiotracers toward positron-emission tomography (PET) radiotracers has occurred in nuclear oncology. Although PET-based molecular imaging of the kidneys is still in its infancy, such a trend has emerged in the field of functional renal radionuclide imaging. Potentially allowing for precise and thorough evaluation of renal radiotracer urodynamics, PET radionuclide imaging has numerous advantages including precise anatomical co-registration with CT images and dynamic three-dimensional imaging capability. In addition, relative to scintigraphic approaches, PET can allow for significantly reduced scan time enabling high-throughput in a busy PET practice and further reduces radiation exposure, which may have a clinical impact in pediatric populations. In recent years, multiple renal PET radiotracers labeled with C-11, Ga-68, and F-18 have been utilized in clinical studies. Beyond providing a precise non-invasive read-out of renal function, such radiotracers may also be used to assess renal inflammation. This manuscript will provide an overview of renal molecular PET imaging and will highlight the transformation of conventional scintigraphy of the kidneys toward novel, high-resolution PET imaging for assessing renal function. In addition, future applications will be introduced, e.g. by transferring the concept of molecular image-guided diagnostics and therapy (theranostics) to the field of nephrology.
Combined MEK‐BRAF inhibition is a well‐established treatment strategy in BRAF‐mutated cancer, most prominently in malignant melanoma with durable responses being achieved through this targeted therapy. However, a subset of patients face primary unresponsiveness despite presence of the activating mutation at position V600E, and others acquire resistance under treatment. Underlying resistance mechanisms are largely unknown, and diagnostic tests to predict tumor response to BRAF‐MEK inhibitor treatment are unavailable.
Multiple myeloma represents the second most common hematologic malignancy, and point mutations in BRAF are detectable in about 10% of patients. Targeted inhibition has been successfully applied, with mixed responses observed in a substantial subset of patients mirroring the widespread spatial heterogeneity in this genomically complex disease. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is an extremely rare, extramedullary form of multiple myeloma that can be diagnosed in less than 1% of patients. It is considered an ultimate high‐risk feature, associated with unfavorable cytogenetics, and, even with intense treatment applied, survival is short, reaching less than 12 months in most cases. Here we not only describe the first patient with an extramedullary CNS relapse responding to targeted dabrafenib and trametinib treatment, we furthermore provide evidence that a point mutation within the capicua transcriptional repressor (CIC) gene mediated the acquired resistance in this patient.
We aimed to investigate the image quality of the U-SPECT5/CT E-Class a micro single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system with two large stationary detectors for visualization of rat hearts and bones using clinically available \(^{99m}\)Tc-labelled tracers. Sensitivity, spatial resolution, uniformity and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the small-animal SPECT scanner were investigated in phantom studies using an ultra-high-resolution rat and mouse multi-pinhole collimator (UHR-RM). Point source, hot-rod, and uniform phantoms with \(^{99m}\)Tc-solution were scanned for high-count performance assessment and count levels equal to animal scans, respectively. Reconstruction was performed using the similarity-regulated ordered-subsets expectation maximization (SROSEM) algorithm with Gaussian smoothing. Rats were injected with similar to 100 MBq [\(^{99m}\)TcTc-MIBI or similar to 150 MBq [\(^{99m}\)Tc]Tc-HMDP and received multi-frame micro-SPECT imaging after tracer distribution. Animal scans were reconstructed for three different acquisition times and post-processed with different sized Gaussian filters. Following reconstruction, CNR was calculated and image quality evaluated by three independent readers on a five-point scale from 1="very poor" to 5="very good". Point source sensitivity was 567 cps/MBq and radioactive rods as small as 1.2 mm were resolved with the UHR-RM collimator. Collimator-dependent uniformity was 55.5%. Phantom CNR improved with increasing rod size, filter size and activity concentration. Left ventricle and bone structures were successfully visualized in rat experiments. Image quality was strongly affected by the extent of post-filtering, whereas scan time did not have substantial influence on visual assessment. Good image quality was achieved for resolution range greater than 1.8 mm in bone and 2.8 mm in heart. The recently introduced small animal SPECT system with two stationary detectors and UHR-RM collimator is capable to provide excellent image quality in heart and bone scans in a rat using standardized reconstruction parameters and appropriate post-filtering. However, there are still challenges in achieving maximum system resolution in the sub-millimeter range with in vivo settings under limited injection dose and acquisition time.
Einleitung: Die linksventrikuläre diastolische Dysfunktion (LVDD) ist bei Diabetikern noch vor Entwicklung einer klinisch apparenten Herzinsuffizienz eines der ersten Anzeichen einer kardialen Beteiligung. Daher soll in dieser Studie untersucht werden, ob die LVDD mit ECG-gated F-18-FDG PET in einem Diabetes-Rattenmodell dargestellt werden kann.
Methodik: Es wurden F-18-FDG PET Scans in einem Typ-2-Diabetes Rattenmodell (ZDF fa/fa, n=6) und in ZL Kontrollen (n=6) vorgenommen (Alter, jeweils 13 Wochen). Unter Hyperinsulinemic-Euglycemic Clamp-Technik wurden 37 MBq 18F-FDG über die Schwanzvene appliziert. 15-35 Minuten nach Tracergabe wurden mittels eines Kleintier-PET-Scanners sowie unter EKG-Ableitung PET Scans angefertigt (16 frames/cardiac cycle). Die linksventrikuläre Ejektionsfraktion (EF) und die Peak Füllrate (PFR) wurden mittels einer geeigneten Software (Heart Function View) gemessen, wobei die Software an die Größe des Rattenherzes angepasst wurde.
Ergebnisse: Im Alter von 13 Wochen entwickeln ZDF Diabetes-Ratten eine im Vergleich zu Kontrolltieren eine signifikante myokardiale Hypertrophie, bestätigt durch post-mortem Analyse des Herzgewichtes (994±78mg vs. 871±44mg in ZDF Diabetes-Ratten vs. ZL Kontrollen, p<0.01). ECG-gated PET zeigte eine signifikante Abnahme der LV diastolischen PFR (10.4±0.5 vs. 11.8±0.4 EDV/sec in ZDF Diabetes-Ratten vs. ZL Kontrollen, p<0.001), jedoch zeigte sich kein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen LVEF und der Herzfrequenz in den untersuchten ZDF Diabetes-Ratten und Kontrollen (LVEF: 60.0±4.5 vs. 63.7±4.1%, n.s. und HR: 305±25 vs. 323±24 bpm, n.s.).
Schlussfolgerung: Im Diabetes-Ratten-Modell kann unter Verwendung eines ECG-gated FDG-PET Protokolls die diastolische Dysfunktion als Parameter der frühen diabetischen Kardiomyopathie nachgewiesen werden.
(1) Background: We aimed to quantitatively investigate [\(^{68}\)Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 uptake in normal organs and to assess a relationship with the extent of FAPI-avid tumor burden. (2) Methods: In this single-center retrospective analysis, thirty-four patients with solid cancers underwent a total of 40 [\(^{68}\)Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT scans. Mean standardized uptake values (SUV\(_{mean}\)) for normal organs were established by placing volumes of interest (VOIs) in the heart, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, and bone marrow. Total tumor burden was determined by manual segmentation of tumor lesions with increased uptake. For tumor burden, quantitative assessment included maximum SUV (SUV\(_{max}\)), tumor volume (TV), and fractional tumor activity (FTA = TV × SUV\(_{mean}\)). Associations between uptake in normal organs and tumor burden were investigated by applying Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. (3) Results: Median SUV\(_{mean}\) values were 2.15 in the pancreas (range, 1.05–9.91), 1.42 in the right (range, 0.57–3.06) and 1.41 in the left kidney (range, 0.73–2.97), 1.2 in the heart (range, 0.46–2.59), 0.86 in the spleen (range, 0.55–1.58), 0.65 in the liver (range, 0.31–2.11), and 0.57 in the bone marrow (range, 0.26–0.94). We observed a trend towards significance for uptake in the myocardium and tumor-derived SUV\(_{max}\) (ρ = 0.29, p = 0.07) and TV (ρ = −0.30, p = 0.06). No significant correlation was achieved for any of the other organs: SUV\(_{max}\) (ρ ≤ 0.1, p ≥ 0.42), TV (ρ ≤ 0.11, p ≥ 0.43), and FTA (ρ ≤ 0.14, p ≥ 0.38). In a sub-analysis exclusively investigating patients with high tumor burden, significant correlations of myocardial uptake with tumor SUV\(_{max}\) (ρ = 0.44; p = 0.03) and tumor-derived FTA with liver uptake (ρ = 0.47; p = 0.02) were recorded. (4) Conclusions: In this proof-of-concept study, quantification of [\(^{68}\)Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET showed no significant correlation between normal organs and tumor burden, except for a trend in the myocardium. Those preliminary findings may trigger future studies to determine possible implications for treatment with radioactive FAP-targeted drugs, as higher tumor load or uptake may not lead to decreased doses in the majority of normal organs.
Importance
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity is one of the most common tumor entities worldwide. Precise initial staging is necessary to determine a diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
Objective
To examine the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative 18-F fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomographic/computed tomographic (PET/CT) imaging in detecting cervical lymph node metastases.
Design, Setting, and Participants
This prospective diagnostic study was performed at a single tertiary reference center between June 1, 2013, and January 31, 2016. Data were analyzed from April 7, 2018, through May 31, 2019. Observers of the FDG PET/CT imaging were blinded to patients’ tumor stage. A total of 150 treatment-naive patients with clinical suspicion of SCC of the oral cavity were enrolled.
Exposures
All patients underwent FDG PET/CT imaging before local tumor resection with selective or complete neck dissection.
Main Outcomes and Measures
The accuracy of FDG PET/CT in localizing primary tumor, lymph node, and distant metastases was tested. Histopathologic characteristics of the tissue samples served as the standard of reference.
Results
Of the 150 patients enrolled, 135 patients (74 [54.8%] men) with a median age of 63 years (range, 23-88 years) met the inclusion criteria (histopathologically confirmed primary SCC of the oral cavity/level-based histopathologic assessment of the resected lymph nodes). Thirty-six patients (26.7%) in the study cohort had neck metastases. Use of FDG PET/CT detected cervical lymph node metastasis with 83.3% sensitivity (95% CI, 71.2%-95.5%) and 84.8% specificity (95% CI, 77.8%-91.9%) and had a negative predictive value of 93.3% (95% CI, 88.2%-98.5%). The specificity was higher than for contrast-enhanced cervical CT imaging (67.0%; 95% CI, 57.4%-76.7%; P < .01) and cervical magnetic resonance imaging (62.6%; 95% CI, 52.7%-72.6%; P < .001). Ipsilateral lymph node metastasis in left- or right-sided primary tumor sites was detected with 78.6% sensitivity (95% CI, 63.4%-93.8%) and 83.1% specificity (95% CI, 75.1%-91.2%), and contralateral metastatic involvement was detected with 66.7% sensitivity (95% CI, 28.9%-100.0%) and 98.6% specificity (95% CI, 95.9%-100.0%). No distant metastases were observed.
Conclusions and Relevance
In this study, FDG PET/CT imaging had a high negative predictive value in detecting cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with newly diagnosed, treatment-naive SCC of the oral cavity. Routine clinical use of FDG PET/CT might lead to a substantial reduction of treatment-related morbidity in most patients.