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Practical calculation method to estimate the absolute boron concentration in tissues using 18F-FBPA PET.
Tadashi Watabe1,2, Kohei Hanaoka3, Sadahiro Naka4
1Department of Nuclear Medicine and Tracer Kinetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. watabe@tracer.med.osaka-u.ac.jp.
Annals of Nuclear Medicine
|April 26, 2017
Summary
This study developed a method to estimate boron concentrations using 4-borono-phenylalanine (BPA) and 18F-FBPA PET scans. The results show that PET-based estimations are practical but require caution in certain organs due to the partial volume effect.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Radiochemistry
- Oncology
Background:
- Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) requires accurate quantification of boron concentrations in tumors and tissues.
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with 18F-labeled tracers offers a non-invasive imaging modality.
- Standardized Uptake Values (SUVs) from PET are commonly used to quantify tracer uptake, but their correlation with absolute concentrations needs validation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a practical method for estimating absolute boron concentrations in tissues using SUVs derived from 18F-FBPA PET.
- To correlate PET-derived boron estimates with measurements obtained via Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES).
Main Methods:
- Rat xenograft models (C6 glioma) were injected with 18F-FBPA PET tracer.
- Following PET, 4-borono-phenylalanine (BPA) was administered, and rats were sacrificed for tissue/tumor sample collection.
- Absolute boron concentrations were measured using ICP-OES (mBC) and estimated from PET SUVs (eBC) using a derived formula.
Main Results:
- A practical formula was developed to estimate boron concentrations from 18F-FBPA PET SUVs.
- Good agreement was observed between measured and estimated boron concentrations in blood, brain, liver, spleen, pancreas, and tumor.
- Significant underestimation in lung and intestines, and overestimation in kidneys were noted, attributed to partial volume effects and high urine uptake, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Absolute boron concentrations in tissues and tumors can be practically estimated from 18F-FBPA PET SUVs.
- Careful interpretation of estimated boron concentrations is necessary for organs affected by the partial volume effect (lung, intestines) to avoid misinterpretation and potential overexposure.
- The developed method provides a valuable tool for preclinical research in BNCT, aiding in treatment planning and efficacy assessment.
