RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 <sup>18</sup>F-PFPN PET: a new and attractive imaging modality for patients with malignant melanoma
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine
JO J Nucl Med
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP jnumed.121.263179
DO 10.2967/jnumed.121.263179
A1 Xiao Zhang
A1 Mengting Li
A1 Yongkang Gai
A1 Jing Chen
A1 Juan Tao
A1 Liu Yang
A1 Fan Hu
A1 Wenyu Song
A1 Tzu-Chen Yen
A1 Xiaoli Lan
YR 2022
UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/early/2022/02/03/jnumed.121.263179.abstract
AB 18F-FDG PET has limited diagnostic applications in malignant melanoma (MM). 18F-PFPN is a novel PET probe with high affinity and selectivity for melanin. We conducted a clinical study with two aims, firstly to investigate the biodistribution and radiation dosimetry of 18F-PFPN in healthy volunteers, and secondly, to examine the diagnostic utility of 18F-PFPN PET imaging in patients with MM. Methods: 18F-PFPN was synthesized through a fluoro-for-tosyl exchange reaction. Five healthy volunteers were enrolled to investigate the biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, radiation dosimetry, and safety of the tracer. Subsequently, a total of 21 patients with clinically suspected or confirmed MM underwent both 18F-PFPN PET/MR and 18F-FDG PET/CT scans. Normalized maximum standardized uptake values of selected lesions were determined for both tracers and compared in patient- and lesion-based analyses. Results: 18F-PFPN has elevated radiochemical yield and was highly stable in vivo. In healthy volunteers, 18F-PFPN was safe and well-tolerated and its effective absorbed dose was comparable to that of 18F-FDG. In patient-based analysis, 18F-PFPN uptake was higher than 18F-FDG for both primary tumors and nodal metastases. In lesion-based analysis,18F-PFPN PET imaging could detect 365 metastases that were missed on 18F-FDG PET. Additionally, 18F-PFPN PET imaging had clinical value in distinguishing false-positive lesions on 18F-FDG PET. Conclusion: 18F-PFPN is a safe and well-tolerated melanin PET tracer. In a pilot clinical study, 18F-PFPN PET imaging outperformed traditional 18F-FDG PET in identifying both primary MM and its distant spread.