OBJECTIVE:

 

Molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) provides a powerful means of identifying and characterizing cancerous processes, as well as providing a quantitative framework within which response to therapy can be ascertained. Unfortunately, the most commonly used PET radiotracer, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), has not demonstrated a definitive role in determining response to therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). As a result, new radiotracers able to reliably image RCC could be of tremendous value for this purpose.

 

METHODS:

 

Five patients with known metastatic RCC were imaged with the low-molecular weight radiotracer 18F-DCFPyL, an inhibitor of the prostate-specific membrane antigen at 60 min post injection. 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT and conventional images (either contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) were centrally reviewed for suspected sites of disease.

 

(후략)