title: Nucleophilic radiosynthesis of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-galactose from Talose triflate and biodistribution in a porcine model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The galactose analogue 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-galactose (FDGal) is a promising positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for studies of regional differences in liver metabolic function and for clinical evaluation of patients with liver cirrhosis and patients undergoing treatment of liver diseases. However, there is an unmet need for routine production of FDGal from readily available starting material. In this study, we present the preparation of FDGal with high radiochemical purity and in amounts sufficient for clinical investigations from commercially available Talose triflate (1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-O-trifluoromethanesulfonyl-β-D-talopyranose). In addition, the biodistribution of FDGal in the pig is presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  FDGal was prepared by nucleophilic fluorination of Talose triflate followed by basic hydrolysis. The entire synthesis was performed using the GE TRACERlab MX 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) synthesizer and existing methods for quality control of FDG were applied. Biodistribution of FDGal was studied by successive whole-body PET recordings of two anaesthetized 37-kg pigs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Up to 3.7 GBq sterile, pyrogen-free and no-carrier-added FDGal was produced with a radiochemical yield of 3.8±1.2% and a radiochemical purity of 98±1% (42 productions; yield is decay corrected). The adopted quality control methods for FDG were directly applicable for FDGal. Biodistribution studies in the pig revealed the liver and the urinary bladder as critical organs in terms of radiation dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Commercially available Talose triflate is a suitable starting material for routine productions of FDGal. The presented radiosynthesis and quality control methods allow for the production of pure, no-carrier-added FDGal in sufficient amounts for clinical PET-investigations of the liver.
authors.affiliation: PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark. frisch@pet.auh.dk
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Frisch
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: Søren B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keiding
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sørensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005643:Fucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006601:Hexoses / Q000737:chemistry*; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry*; D008698:Mesylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D023421:Models, Animal; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011854:Radiochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D006601:Hexoses; D007783:Lactones; D008698:Mesylates; D005643:Fucose; C049289:2-deoxy-2-fluorogalactose