Biography - Anthony F. Shields, M.D., Ph.D.

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Anthony Shields, M.D., Ph.D., is a physician-researcher who works in the area of imaging and anticancer drug assessment. Dr. Shields is a Professor of Medicine at Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. His laboratory focuses on the development and application of new radiolabeled tracers for use with positron emission tomography (PET). His National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded work has studied the use of labeled pyrimidines for use with PET and led to the development of 3′-deoxy-3′-[¹⁸F]fluorothymidine (FLT). He continues to work on the use of FLT to image tumor proliferation and on the validation of this approach. Among other projects being pursued are the use of new thymidine analogs such as FMAU {1-(2′-deoxy-2′-[¹⁸F]fluoro-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)-thymine} and FAU (2′-[¹⁸F]fluoro-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil) for the assessment of tumors and their response to therapy. These agents are under study for in vivo use in imaging of lung, prostate, and breast tumors. Studies include the biochemical analyses of the pathways involved with tracer uptake, distribution and metabolism and include cell lines, animals, and humans. In this way, progress is able to move from the bench, to the animal lab, and into the clinic. …