PET imaging agent targets copper in tumors for early detection of prostate cancer recurrence
Italian researchers found an innovative nuclear medicine imaging agent that targets copper buildup in tumors to detect prostate cancer recurrence in patients with biochemical relapse.
Corresponding author Arnoldo Piccardo, with the department of nuclear medicine with E.O. Ospedali Galliera in Genoa, Italy, and colleagues pointed to separate studies that reported increased copper levels in tumors.
Researchers suggested the findings could pave a way for using elevated copper concentration in cancer cells as an imaging biomarker for metabolic PET imaging, according to Piccardo et al. in the study published in March’s Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
In the 50-patient study, researchers performed PET/CT scans using copper-64 chloride (64CuCl2), the new imaging agent, against fluorine-18-choline (18F-Choline).
"This is the first time this novel agent has been compared with 18F-Choline-PET/CT in a considerable number of prostate cancer patients with biochemical relapse," said Piccardo in a Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging release. "Early detection of prostate cancer relapse may improve the clinical management of patients, for example implementing early salvage radiotherapy."
Similar to established PET tracers, the most effective dose of the new imaging agent was 5.7 mSV. 64CuCl2 is not accumulated in, nor excreted from the urinary tract allowing for thorough pelvic assessment and an increased possibility of detecting small lesions near the bladder.
No adverse reactions were observed after the injection of 64CuCl2, and results show that 64CuCl2-PET/CT has a higher detection rate than 18F-Choline-PET/CT in patients with low levels of PSA (<1 ng/ml).
“This study determined that the biodistribution of 64CuCl2 is more suitable than that of 18F-choline for exploring the pelvis and prostatic bed,” wrote Piccardo et al. “In patients with biochemical relapse and a low PSA level, 64CuCl2-PET/CT shows a significantly higher detection rate than 18F-choline-PET/CT.”
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.