title: A broad overview of positron emission tomography radiopharmaceuticals and clinical applications: what is new?
abstract: Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is a rapidly expanding imaging modality, thanks to the availability of compact medical cyclotrons and automated chemistry synthesis modules for the production of PET radiopharmaceuticals. Despite the availability of many radiotracers, [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is currently the most widely used radiopharmaceutical in PET, and the field of molecular imaging is anxiously awaiting the introduction of new PET radiopharmaceuticals for routine clinical use. During the last five years, several proprietary PET radiopharmaceuticals have been developed by major companies, and these new agents are in different stages of clinical evaluation. These new PET drugs are designed for imaging brain beta amyloid, myocardial perfusion, amino acid transport, angiogenesis, and tumor antigen expression. In addition, the National Cancer Institute, Society of Nuclear Medicine Clinical Trials Network, and the American College of Radiology Imaging Network have been conducting multicenter clinical trials with several nonproprietary PET drugs such as sodium [(18)F]fluoride, [(18)F]fluorothymidine, [(18)F]fluoromisonidazole, and (64)Cu-labeled diacetyl-bis (N(4)-methylthiosemicarbazone. All new PET radiopharmaceuticals, like any other drugs, must be manufactured under current good manufacturing practices as required by the Food and Drug Administration before clinical evaluation (phases I, II, and III) and submission of new drug application. This review briefly describes the chemistry, mechanisms(s) of localization, and clinical application of both proprietary and nonproprietary new PET drugs under multicenter clinical evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University and New York Presbyterian Hospital, USA. svallabh@med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: Shankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vallabhajosula
authors.forename: Lilja
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Solnes
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vallabhajosula
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals