Radiolabeled Amino Acids: Basic Aspects and Clinical Applications in Oncology*

Journal of Nuclear Medicine

Jan Pruim¹  Willem Vaalburg¹  Pieter L. Jager¹  D. Albertus Piers¹  Karl-Josef Langen¹  Elisabeth G.E. de Vries¹ 

[1] Department of Nuclear Medicine, PET Center, and Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; and Institute of Medicine, Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany Department of Nuclear Medicine, PET Center, and Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; and Institute of Medicine, Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany Department of Nuclear Medicine, PET Center, and Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; and Institute of Medicine, Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany

关键词: radiolabeled amino acids;    ¹¹C-methionine;    ¹¹C-tyrosine;    ¹²³I-iodo-α-methyltyrosine;    tumor imaging;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: Society of Nuclear Medicine

【 摘 要 】

As the applications of metabolic imaging are expanding, radiolabeled amino acids may gain increased clinical interest. This review first describes the basic aspects of amino acid metabolism, then continues with basic aspects of radiolabeled amino acids, and finally describes clinical applications, with an emphasis on diagnostic value. A special focus is on 11C-methionine, 11C-tyrosine, and 123I-iodomethyltyrosine, because these have been most used clinically, although their common affinity for the L-transport systems may limit generalization to other classes of amino acids. The theoretic and preclinical background of amino acid imaging is sound and supports clinical applications. The fact that amino acid imaging is less influenced by inflammation may be advantageous in comparison with 18F-FDG PET imaging, although tumor specificity is not absolute. In brain tumor imaging, the use of radiolabeled amino acids is established, the diagnostic accuracy of amino acid imaging seems adequate, and the diagnostic value seems advantageous. The general feasibility of amino acid imaging in other tumor types has sufficiently been shown, but more research is required in larger patient series and in well-defined clinical settings.

【 授权许可】

Unknown