Characterization of preclinical models of prostate cancer using PET-based molecular imaging.
OBJECTIVE
Transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice spontaneously develop hormone-dependent and hormone-independent prostate cancer (PC) that potentially resembles the human pathological condition. The aim of the study was to validate PET imaging as a reliable tool for in vivo assessment of disease biology and progression in TRAMP mice using radioligands routinely applied in clinical practice: [(18)F]FDG and [(11)C]choline.


METHODS
Six TRAMP mice were longitudinally evaluated starting at week 11 of age to visualize PC development and progression. The time frame and imaging pattern of PC lesions were subsequently confirmed on an additional group of five mice.


RESULTS
PET and [(18)F]FDG allowed detection of PC lesions starting from 23 weeks of age. [(11)C]Choline was clearly taken up only by TRAMP mice carrying neuroendocrine lesions, as revealed by post-mortem histological evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
PET-based molecular imaging represents a state-of-the-art tool for the in vivo monitoring and metabolic characterization of PC development, progression and differentiation in the TRAMP model.
Belloli
Sara
S
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Scientific Institute H San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.
Jachetti
Elena
E
Moresco
Rosa M
RM
Picchio
Maria
M
Lecchi
Michela
M
Valtorta
Silvia
S
Freschi
Massimo
M
Hess Michelini
Rodrigo
R
Bellone
Matteo
M
Fazio
Ferruccio
F
D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002794:Choline / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000378:metabolism; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D006728:Hormones; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D002794:Choline