title: Characterization of preclinical models of prostate cancer using PET-based molecular imaging.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Scientific Institute H San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belloli
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jachetti
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Moresco
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picchio
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lecchi
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valtorta
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freschi
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hess Michelini
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellone
authors.forename: Ferruccio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fazio
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D006728:Hormones; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D002794:Choline