Ultrasensitive detection of uveal melanoma using [¹⁸F]AlF-NOTA-PRGD2 PET imaging

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adults.
• Early detection of UM is critical for improving patient outcomes.
• The diagnostic effectiveness of [18F]AlF-NOTA-PRGD2 PET imaging was evaluated in UM models and patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of [18F]AlF-NOTA-PRGD2 PET imaging for uveal melanoma.
• To compare the performance of [18F]AlF-NOTA-PRGD2 PET with [18F]FDG PET in UM detection.
• To assess the potential of [18F]AlF-NOTA-PRGD2 PET for diagnosing UM with liver metastasis.

Main Methods:

• In vitro evaluation of [18F]AlF-NOTA-PRGD2 in 92-1 UM cell line for cell uptake, binding, and stability.
• In vivo microPET imaging and biodistribution studies in 92-1 UM xenografts.
• Clinical evaluation of [18F]AlF-NOTA-PRGD2 PET imaging in UM patients (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02441972).
• Comparative analysis of [18F]AlF-NOTA-PRGD2 and [18F]FDG PET imaging.

Main Results:

• [18F]AlF-NOTA-PRGD2 demonstrated high cell uptake, binding ability, and in vitro stability.
• UM tumors in xenografts were clearly visualized with [18F]AlF-NOTA-PRGD2, showing significant tumor uptake.
• UM tumors in patients were clearly visualized post-injection.
• [18F]AlF-NOTA-PRGD2 PET exhibited higher sensitivity and specificity than [18F]FDG PET for UM detection.

Conclusions:

• [18F]AlF-NOTA-PRGD2 PET imaging is a promising approach for diagnosing primary UM, potentially superior to [18F]FDG PET.
• The high tumor-to-background ratio of [18F]AlF-NOTA-PRGD2 suggests its applicability in diagnosing UM with liver metastasis.