FET-PET may monitor treatment response in glioblastoma

Kathy Mahdoubi | | Health Imaging | Molecular Imaging

Preliminary research shows that O-(2-[18F]-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (FET) could be used as a biomarker for response to chemoradiotherapy in glioblastoma patients, the University of West Australia School of Medicine announced last week.

Associate professor Roslyn Francis, MD, and colleagues are heading up the university’s study, which could lead to bigger and better things for amino-acid imaging research.

"It's an image analysis study where we will hopefully gain information to ascertain whether incorporating areas of FET uptake into a radiotherapy planning field may influence sites of subsequent disease progression or relapse," said Francis in a press release.

The study is a continuation of previous research using C11-methionine, which has a much shorter half-life than FET. The current study is ongoing and researchers hope to assess definitively whether FET can provide proof of chemotherapy treatment response.

"The aim is to use the results of this initial single site study to form the basis of a multicenter imaging cohort study across several sites in Australia," Francis said.

Kathy Mahdoubi

Related Content

Researchers receive grant worth millions to develop portable PET scanner
Why is the US still dependent on foreign medical isotope production?
Downed high-flux reactor could restart sooner than anticipated
Some nuc med departments are already feeling the strain of the isotope shortage
NorthStar opens facility to assist with development and distribution of vital radioisotopes
Lizard saliva could be key to spotting elusive pancreatic tumors

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business
Positron partners with Upbeat Cardiology Solutions to improve cardiac PET/CT access

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

Cardiovascular Business
Global shortage of nuclear imaging isotopes may be over

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

Cardiovascular Business
‘A huge win’: CMS significantly increases Medicare payments for cardiac CT

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.