18F-ML-10, a PET tracer for apoptosis: first human study.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine
• Molecular imaging
• Radiopharmaceutical chemistry

Background:

• Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of apoptosis is crucial for advancing patient care.
• Developing small-molecule PET tracers is key for precise apoptosis detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the dosimetry, biodistribution, stability, and safety of (18)F-ML-10, a novel PET tracer for apoptosis, in humans.
• To confirm tracer binding to apoptotic cells in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Administered (18)F-ML-10 intravenously to 8 healthy subjects.
• Conducted whole-body PET/CT scans for 220 minutes.
• Assessed plasma tracer stability and calculated dosimetry using specialized software.

Main Results:

• (18)F-ML-10 exhibited high in vivo stability and rapid clearance with a short half-life.
• The average effective whole-body dose was favorable, with the urinary bladder as the dose-limiting organ.
• Selective accumulation in testes was observed in male subjects, confirming binding to apoptotic cells. The tracer was safe and well-tolerated.

Conclusions:

• (18)F-ML-10 demonstrated a favorable safety, dosimetry, and biodistribution profile in healthy humans.
• The tracer successfully bound to apoptotic sites, validating its potential for apoptosis imaging.
• These findings support the further clinical development of (18)F-ML-10 for PET imaging of apoptosis.