Propionic Acid-Based PET Imaging of Prostate Cancer

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine
• Oncology
• Radiochemistry

Background:

• Prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis relies on imaging techniques.
• Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is implicated in cancer progression.
• Novel PET imaging agents are needed for PCa detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate 2-[18F]fluoropropionic acid (18F-FPA) for PET imaging of PCa.
• To explore the relationship between 18F-FPA accumulation and FASN levels in PCa models.
• To report the first human PET study using 18F-FPA in a PCa patient.

Main Methods:

• Cell culture of PCa lines (LNCaP, PC-3, DU145) with varying FASN expression.
• PET imaging comparison of 18F-FPA and 18F-FDG in PCa models.
• In vivo experiments using orlistat (FASN inhibitor).
• Human PET study in a PCa patient using 18F-FPA and 18F-FDG.

Main Results:

• 18F-FPA uptake was higher than 18F-FDG in LNCaP and PC-3 tumors (P<0.05).
• 18F-FPA uptake was lower than 18F-FDG in DU145 tumors (P<0.05).
• Orlistat treatment reduced 18F-FPA accumulation in all tested PCa models.
• 18F-FPA showed higher uptake than 18F-FDG in the first PCa patient.

Conclusions:

• 18F-FPA uptake in PCa models correlates with FASN activity.
• 18F-FPA accumulation decreased after FASN inhibition.
• 18F-FPA shows potential as a broad-spectrum PET imaging agent for PCa diagnosis.