Tumour functional imaging by PET

Publication date: Available online 5 February 2020Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of DiseaseAuthor(s): Ana Margarida Abrantes, Ana Salomé Pires, Lúcia Monteiro, Ricardo Teixo, Ana Rita Neves, Nuno Tiago Tavares, Inês Alexandra Marques, Maria Filomena BotelhoAbstractCarcinogenesis is a complex multistep process, characterized by changes at different levels, both genetic and epigenetic, which alter cell metabolism. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a very sensitive image modality that allows to evaluate oncometabolism. PET functionalities are immense, since by labelling a molecule that specifically intervenes in a biochemical regulatory pathway of interest with a positron-emitting radionuclide, we can easily image that pathway. Thus, PET makes possible imaging several metabolic processes and assessing risk prediction, screening, diagnosis, response to therapy, metastization and recurrence.In this paper, we provide an overview of different radiopharmaceuticals developed for PET use in oncology, with a focus on brain tumours, breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumours, bladder cancer and prostate cancer because for these cancer types PET has been shown to be valuable. Most of the described tracers are just used in the research environment, with the aim to assess if these tracers could be able to offer an improvement concerning staging/restaging, characterization and stratification of different types of cancer, as well as t...
Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) Molecular Basis of Disease - Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research