PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sabrina Kraus
AU  - Alexander Dierks
AU  - Leo Rasche
AU  - Olivia Kertels
AU  - Malte Kircher
AU  - Andreas Schirbel
AU  - Josip Zovko
AU  - Torsten Steinbrunn
AU  - Raoul Tibes
AU  - Hans-Jürgen Wester
AU  - Andreas K. Buck
AU  - Hermann Einsele
AU  - K. Martin Kortüm
AU  - Andreas Rosenwald
AU  - Constantin Lapa
TI  - <sup>68</sup>Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT for Detection of Chemokine Receptor CXCR4 Expression in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
AID  - 10.2967/jnumed.121.262206
DP  - 2022 Jan 01
TA  - Journal of Nuclear Medicine
PG  - 96--99
VI  - 63
IP  - 1
4099  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/63/1/96.short
4100  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/63/1/96.full
SO  - J Nucl Med2022 Jan 01; 63
AB  - C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is an attractive target for cancer diagnosis and treatment, as it is overexpressed in many solid and hematologic malignancies. This study investigated the feasibility of CXCR4-directed imaging with PET/CT using 68Ga-pentixafor to visualize and quantify disease involvement in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Methods: Twelve patients with MPNs (4 with primary myelofibrosis, 6 with essential thrombocythemia, and 2 with polycythemia vera) and 5 controls underwent 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT. Imaging findings were compared with immunohistochemical stainings, laboratory data, and splenic volume. Results: 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT was visually positive in 12 of 12 patients, and CXCR4 target specificity could be confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. A significantly higher tracer uptake could be detected in the bone marrow of MPN patients (SUVmean, 6.45 ± 2.34 vs. 4.44 ± 1.24). Dynamic changes in CXCR4 expression determined by 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT corresponded with treatment response. Conclusion: 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT represents a novel diagnostic tool to noninvasively detect and quantify the extent of disease involvement in MPNs.