Nuclear medical molecular imaging of tumor angiogenesis: current status and future prospects

To review the current status and progress on nuclear medical molecular imaging of angiogenesis.

A literature search was performed in Medline and PubMed published in English up to May 31, 2012. The search terms were molecular imaging, nuclear medicine and angiogenesis.

Articles studying molecular imaging of angiogenesis using radionuclide were selected and reviewed.

Molecular imaging has been used for studying angiogenesis by targeting integrin αVβ3, VEGF/VEGFR, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) with radionuclide-labeled tracers. The technology has been shown to be able to assess the angiogenesis status and/or predict the efficacy of anti-angiogenic therapy. Future directions of the research on the molecular imaging of angiogenesis include development of new tracers with better tumor targeting efficacy, desirable pharmacokinetics, and easy translation to clinical applications.

Advances in molecular imaging of angiogenesis using radioculcide will make the technology a valuable tool for personalized anti-angiogenesis treatment.