Positive progress in immunoPET--not just a coincidence

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiochemistry
• Molecular Imaging

Background:

• Antibody-based targeted therapeutics have advanced cancer treatment.
• ImmunoPET imaging is gaining interest for its potential in cancer management.
• Targeted imaging agents complement immunotherapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss key factors in designing positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents.
• To review recent preclinical and clinical findings in immunoPET.
• To highlight advances in antibody-based PET probes.

Main Methods:

• Focus on four common positron emitters for protein labeling: iodine-124, zirconium-89, copper-64, and fluorine-18.
• Review of preclinical and clinical immunoPET studies.
• Discussion of molecular targets, biological targeting molecules, and radionuclide combinations.

Main Results:

• Development of immunoPET probes to predict radioimmunotherapeutic biodistribution.
• Successful use of novel radionuclide and antibody fragment combinations.
• Increased utilization of zirconium-89 and emergence of fluorine-18 labeled diabodies for same-day imaging.

Conclusions:

• Antibody-based PET probes are valuable molecular imaging agents.
• Preclinical progress is expected to speed up clinical translation of targeted diagnostics.
• ImmunoPET imaging shows significant promise in oncology.