Radiotracers in oncology

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine
• Molecular imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• Radiopharmaceuticals offer functional information on cellular mechanisms and molecular pathways.
• Functional data can be obtained through biodistribution, influx/efflux studies, and binding assays.
• Understanding molecular mechanisms enables early disease diagnosis, preceding morphological changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the utility of nuclear medicine in evaluating metabolic steps of malignant transformation.
• To assess the functional status and therapeutic response of tumoral tissue.
• To highlight the role of nuclear medicine in cancer detection, treatment, and follow-up.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal approach to study malignant transformation.
• Utilizing nuclear medicine for functional assessment of tumoral tissue.
• Evaluating parameters such as tumor proliferation, metabolism, angiogenesis, hypoxia, apoptosis, receptor expression, and multidrug resistance.

Main Results:

• Nuclear medicine enables mapping and quantification of metabolic changes in malignant transformation.
• Functional information provides insights into tumoral tissue's status and response to therapy.
• The study confirms the significant role of nuclear medicine across various aspects of cancer management.

Conclusions:

• Nuclear medicine is crucial for early cancer detection by assessing molecular and functional changes.
• It allows for monitoring tumor progression, metabolic activity, and therapeutic efficacy.
• This modality is indispensable for comprehensive cancer care, from diagnosis to follow-up.