PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Beer, Ambros J.
AU  - Niemeyer, Markus
AU  - Carlsen, Janette
AU  - Sarbia, Mario
AU  - Nährig, Jörg
AU  - Watzlowik, Petra
AU  - Wester, Hans-Jürgen
AU  - Harbeck, Nadia
AU  - Schwaiger, Markus
TI  - Patterns of α<sub>v</sub>β<sub>3</sub> Expression in Primary and Metastatic Human Breast Cancer as Shown by <sup>18</sup>F-Galacto-RGD PET
AID  - 10.2967/jnumed.107.045526
DP  - 2008 Feb 01
TA  - Journal of Nuclear Medicine
PG  - 255--259
VI  - 49
IP  - 2
4099  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/49/2/255.short
4100  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/49/2/255.full
SO  - J Nucl Med2008 Feb 01; 49
AB  - The integrin αvβ3 is a key player in angiogenesis and metastasis. Our aim was to study the uptake patterns of the αvβ3-selective PET tracer 18F-galacto-RGD in invasive ductal breast cancer. Methods: Sixteen patients with primary (n = 12) or metastasized breast cancer (n = 4) were examined with 18F-galacto-RGD PET. Standardized uptake values (SUVs) were derived by region-of-interest analysis, and immunohistochemistry of αvβ3 expression was performed (n = 5). Results: 18F-Galacto-RGD PET identified all invasive carcinomas, with SUVs from 1.4 to 8.7 (mean ± SD, 3.6 ± 1.8; tumor-to-blood and tumor-to-muscle ratios, 2.7 ± 1.6 and 6.2 ± 2.2, respectively). Lymph-node metastases were detected in 3 of 8 patients (mean SUV, 3.3 ± 0.8). SUVs in distant metastases were heterogeneous (2.9 ± 1.4). Immunohistochemistry confirmed αvβ3 expression predominantly on microvessels (5/5) and, to a lesser extent, on tumor cells (3/5). Conclusion: Our results suggest generally elevated and highly variable αvβ3 expression in human breast cancer lesions. Consequently, further imaging studies with 18F-galacto-RGD PET in breast cancer patients for assessment of angiogenesis or planning of αvβ3-targeted therapies are promising.