In vitro and in vivo comparison of 18F and 123I-labeled ML10 with 68Ga-Cys2-AnxA5 for molecular imaging of apoptosis.

M. Bauwens, M. De Saint-Hubert, J. Cleynhens, C. Vandeputte, J. Li, E. Devos, S. Hendrickx, Y. Ni, C.P. Reutelingsperger, L. Mortelmans, F.M. Mottaghy, A. Verbruggen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Aim: Recently, 18F-labeled 2-(5-fluoropentyl)-2-methylmalonic acid or ML10 has been proposed as a promising PET tracer for imaging of apoptosis. In this study we compared 18F-ML10, the 123I labeled 5-iodo derivative (123I-ML10) and a 68Ga-labeled Annexin A5 (AnxA5) and evaluated them as apoptosis tracers in several distinct models. Methods: In vivo stability and biodistribution were studied in healthy mice. Apoptosis imaging was evaluated in anti-Fas treated mice and mice with muscular apoptosis. Furthermore, 18F-ML10 and 68Ga-Cys2-AnxA5 were evaluated in a rat model with reperfused liver infarct and a rat model with cerebral infarct as well as in Daudi tumor bearing mice, before and after treatment with cyclophosphamide and/or radiotherapy. Results: 18F-ML10 and 68Ga-Cys2-AnxA5 were both stable, while 123I-ML10 metabolized very quickly in vivo. All tracers showed a 3-4 times higher uptake in apoptotic muscular tissue in comparison to that in healthy muscular tissue. Animals with anti-Fas induced hepatic apoptosis showed an increased liver uptake which was most pronounced for 18F-ML10. The uptake of both 18F-ML10 and 68Ga-Cys2-AnxA5 increased in the apoptotic region surrounding the cerebral infarction and the reperfused liver infarction. Tumor uptake of 68Ga-Cys2-AnxA5, but not of 18F-ML10, was statistically significantly higher after therapy as measured with PET/MRI. Conclusion: All radiotracers were able to detect apoptosis in vitro and in vivo in each of the studied animal models of apoptosis. 68Ga-Cys2-AnxA5, but not 18F-ML10, allowed to visualize the effect of tumor therapy in a statistically significant way.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)187-200
JournalQuarterly Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Volume57
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2013

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