Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor (FAPI)-Based Theranostics.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Imaging
• Molecular Imaging
• Radiochemistry

Background:

• Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a protease found in cancer-associated fibroblasts and fibrotic tissues.
• FAP inhibitors (FAPIs) labeled with PET tracers offer advantages like rapid uptake and high tumor-to-background ratios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the expanding clinical applications of FAPI-based PET imaging.
• To highlight FAPI PET's utility in oncology, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on FAPI PET imaging.
• Analysis of FAPI PET performance in various disease models and clinical settings.

Main Results:

• FAPI PET demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity for tumor delineation, staging, and response assessment in diverse malignancies.
• FAPI PET shows promise in imaging fibrotic and inflammatory conditions, including myocardial fibrosis and cardiac remodeling.
• The potential for theranostic applications positions FAPI as a key tool in precision oncology.

Conclusions:

• FAPI PET imaging is a versatile tool with expanding applications beyond oncology.
• Further large-scale studies and multicenter trials are needed to validate findings and standardize protocols.
• FAPI PET has the potential to be a transformative tool in precision medicine.