FAPI-PET bests FDG-PET in detecting gastrointestinal cancer

Fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI)-PET/CT appears superior to standard FDG-PET/CT for detecting gastrointestinal cancer, with higher radiotracer uptake seen in most tumors, according to a study published October 26 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. In a clinical trial, researchers in Xiamen, China, compared the two approaches for detecting primary and metastatic tumors in patients with confirmed gastric, liver, or pancreatic cancer.“The use of F-18 FAPI-74 PET/CT is expected to improve the diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer and contribute to individualized patient care,” wrote senior author Haojun Chen, MD, PhD, and colleagues.Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is overexpressed by fibroblast cells in more than 90% of epithelial tumors. Previous studies have shown that experimental FAP inhibitors (ligands that attach to the FAP protein) are highly accurate as PET imaging agents when combined with gallium-68 (Ga-68) radioisotopes.However, FAPI radiotracers labeled with F-18 isotopes may offer advantages in workflows and patient care over Ga-68-labeled tracers, as they have a longer half-life (110 vs. 68 minutes), the researchers added.To establish evidence for the use of F-18 FAPI-PET/CT in patients with gastrointestinal cancer, the researchers enrolled 112 patients from June 2022 to December 2022 at their hospital in Xiamen. Patients underwent concurrent F-18 FDG and F-18 FAPI-74 PET/CT, with findings confirmed by biopsies. The tracers were compared based ...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Nuclear Medicine Source Type: news