Dose-Dependent Uptake of 3'-deoxy-3'-[ super(18)F]Fluorothy midine by the Bowel after Total-Body Irradiation

• Published in: Molecular imaging and biology Vol. 16; no. 6; pp. 846 - 853
• Main Authors: Hartenbach, Markus, Delker, Andreas, Hartenbach, Sabrina, Schlichtiger, Juli, Niedermoser, Sabrina, Waengler, Carmen, Waengler, Bjorn, Boning, Guido, Gildehaus, Franz Josef, Neumaier, Klement, Lauber, Kirsten, Kraft, Klaus, Belka, Claus, Hacker, Marcus, Meineke, Viktor, Bartenstein, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2014
• ISSN: 1536-1632; 1860-2002
• DOI: 10.1007/s11307-014-0755-y

Purpose: The aim of this study is to non-invasively assess early, irradiation-induced normal tissue alterations via metabolic imaging with 3'-deoxy-3'-[ super(18)F]fluorothy midine ([ super(18)F]FLT). Procedures: Twenty-nine male C57BL/6 mice were investigated by [ super(18)F]FLT positron emission tomography for 7 days after total body irradiation (1, 4, and 8 Gy) versus 'sham' irradiation (0 Gy). Target/background ratios were determined. The imaging results were validated by histology and immunohistochemistry (Thymidine kinase 1, Ki-67). Results: [ super(18)F]FLT demonstrated a dose-dependent intestinal accumulation post irradiation. Mean target/background ratio ( plus or minus standard error) 0 Gy: 1.4 (0.2), 1 Gy: 1.7 (0.1), 4 Gy: 3.1 (0.3), 8 Gy: 4.2 (0.6). Receiver operating characteristic analysis (area under the curve, p value): 0 vs. 1 Gy: 0.81, 0.049; 0 vs. 4 Gy: 1.0, 0.0016; and 0 vs. 8 Gy: 1.0, 0.0020. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the results. Conclusions: [ super(18)F]FLT seems to provide dose-dependent information on radiation-induced proliferation in the bowel. This opens the perspective for monitoring therapy-related side-effects as well as assessing, e.g., radiation accident victims.