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2-[11C]thymidine positron emission tomography reproducibility in humans
Paula Wells1, Roger N Gunn, Colin Steel
1Department of Cancer Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Summary
This study demonstrates that 2-[11C]thymidine positron emission tomography (PET) scanning is reproducible in patients with advanced intra-abdominal malignancies. Repeat PET scans are feasible for assessing tumor proliferation and evaluating new anti-cancer drugs.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Oncology
- Radiochemistry
Background:
- Positron emission tomography (PET) is a powerful imaging technique.
- 2-[11C]thymidine is a radiotracer used to assess cell proliferation.
- Reproducibility is crucial for clinical application and drug development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reproducibility of 2-[11C]thymidine PET scanning.
- To assess interpatient and intrapatient variability in tumor proliferation measurements.
- To determine the feasibility of repeat scanning for intra-abdominal malignancies.
Main Methods:
- Seven patients with advanced intra-abdominal malignancies underwent 2-[11C]thymidine PET scans one week apart.
- Arterial plasma metabolite levels were measured using on-line sampling and HPLC.
- Tissue retention was quantified using standardized uptake value (SUVend), area under the curve (AUC0-1hr), and fractional retention (FRT).
Main Results:
- Interpatient variability in plasma 2-[11C]thymidine and metabolite levels was observed.
- Intrapatient variability in PET data (SUVend, AUC0-1hr, FRT) was significantly lower than interpatient variability.
- Good correlation was found between paired tumor data for SUVend, AUC0-1hr, and FRT.
Conclusions:
- 2-[11C]thymidine PET scanning demonstrates reproducibility in humans.
- Repeat scanning is feasible for evaluating tumor proliferation in intra-abdominal malignancies.
- This technique can aid in the rapid assessment of novel antiproliferative tumor agents.