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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 7/2011

Open Access 01-07-2011 | Original Article

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor-based targeting using bombesin analogues is superior to metabolism-based targeting using choline for in vivo imaging of human prostate cancer xenografts

Authors: Rogier P. J. Schroeder, W. M. van Weerden, E. P. Krenning, C. H. Bangma, S. Berndsen, C. H. Grievink-de Ligt, H. C. Groen, S. Reneman, E. de Blois, W. A. P. Breeman, M. de Jong

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 7/2011

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Abstract

Purpose

Prostate cancer (PC) is a major health problem. Overexpression of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) in PC, but not in the hyperplastic prostate, provides a promising target for staging and monitoring of PC. Based on the assumption that cancer cells have increased metabolic activity, metabolism-based tracers are also being used for PC imaging. We compared GRPR-based targeting using the 68Ga-labelled bombesin analogue AMBA with metabolism-based targeting using 18F-methylcholine (18F-FCH) in nude mice bearing human prostate VCaP xenografts.

Methods

PET and biodistribution studies were performed with both 68Ga-AMBA and 18F-FCH in all VCaP tumour-bearing mice, with PC-3 tumour-bearing mice as reference. Scanning started immediately after injection. Dynamic PET scans were reconstructed and analysed quantitatively. Biodistribution of tracers and tissue uptake was expressed as percent of injected dose per gram tissue (%ID/g).

Results

All tumours were clearly visualized using 68Ga-AMBA. 18F-FCH showed significantly less contrast due to poor tumour-to-background ratios. Quantitative PET analyses showed fast tumour uptake and high retention for both tracers. VCaP tumour uptake values determined from PET at steady-state were 6.7 ± 1.4%ID/g (20–30 min after injection, N = 8) for 68Ga-AMBA and 1.6 ± 0.5%ID/g (10–20 min after injection, N = 8) for 18F-FCH, which were significantly different (p <0.001). The results in PC-3 tumour-bearing mice were comparable. Biodistribution data were in accordance with the PET results showing VCaP tumour uptake values of 9.5 ± 4.8%ID/g (N = 8) for 68Ga-AMBA and 2.1 ± 0.4%ID/g (N = 8) for 18F-FCH. Apart from the GRPR-expressing organs, uptake in all organs was lower for 68Ga-AMBA than for 18F-FCH.

Conclusion

Tumour uptake of 68Ga-AMBA was higher while overall background activity was lower than observed for 18F-FCH in the same PC-bearing mice. These results suggest that peptide receptor-based targeting using the bombesin analogue AMBA is superior to metabolism-based targeting using choline for scintigraphy of PC.
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Metadata
Title
Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor-based targeting using bombesin analogues is superior to metabolism-based targeting using choline for in vivo imaging of human prostate cancer xenografts
Authors
Rogier P. J. Schroeder
W. M. van Weerden
E. P. Krenning
C. H. Bangma
S. Berndsen
C. H. Grievink-de Ligt
H. C. Groen
S. Reneman
E. de Blois
W. A. P. Breeman
M. de Jong
Publication date
01-07-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 7/2011
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-011-1775-3

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