TY - JOUR T1 - PET/CT Imaging with an <sup>18</sup>F-Labeled Galactodendritic Unit in a Galectin-1–Overexpressing Orthotopic Bladder Cancer Model JF - Journal of Nuclear Medicine JO - J Nucl Med SP - 1369 LP - 1375 DO - 10.2967/jnumed.119.236430 VL - 61 IS - 9 AU - Patricia M.R. Pereira AU - Sheryl Roberts AU - Flávio Figueira AU - João P.C. Tomé AU - Thomas Reiner AU - Jason S. Lewis Y1 - 2020/09/01 UR - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/61/9/1369.abstract N2 - Galectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins overexpressed in bladder cancer (BCa) cells. Dendritic galactose moieties have a high affinity for galectin-expressing tumor cells. We radiolabeled a dendritic galactose carbohydrate with 18F (18F-labeled galactodendritic unit 4) and examined its potential in imaging urothelial malignancies. Methods: The 18F-labeled first-generation galactodendritic unit 4 was obtained from its tosylate precursor. We conducted in vivo studies in a galectin-expressing UMUC3 orthotopic BCa model to determine the ability of 18F-labeled galactodendritic unit 4 to image BCa. Results: Intravesical administration of 18F-labeled galactodendritic unit 4 allowed specific accumulation of the carbohydrate radiotracer in galectin-1–overexpressing UMUC3 orthotopic tumors when imaged with PET. The 18F-labeled galactodendritic unit 4 was not found to accumulate in nontumor murine bladders. Conclusion: The 18F-labeled galactodendritic unit 4 and similar analogs may be clinically relevant and exploitable for PET imaging of galectin-1–overexpressing bladder tumors. ER -