title: Positron Emission Tomography as a Method for Measuring Drug Delivery to Tumors in vivo: The Example of [(11)C]docetaxel.
abstract: Systemic anticancer treatments fail in a substantial number of patients. This may be caused by inadequate uptake and penetration of drugs in malignant tumors. Consequently, improvement of drug delivery to solid tumors may enhance its efficacy. Before evaluating strategies to enhance drug uptake in tumors, better understanding of drug delivery to human tumors is needed. Positron emission tomography (PET) is an imaging technique that can be used to monitor drug pharmacokinetics non-invasively in patients, based on radiolabeling these drugs with short-lived positron emitters. In this mini review, principles and potential applications of PET using radiolabeled anticancer drugs will be discussed with respect to personalized treatment planning in oncology. In particular, it will be discussed how these radiolabeled anticancer drugs could help to develop strategies for improved drug delivery to solid tumors. The development and clinical implementation of PET using radiolabeled anticancer drugs will be illustrated by validation studies of carbon-11 labeled docetaxel ([(11)C]docetaxel) in lung cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center , Amsterdam , Netherlands ; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, VU University Medical Center , Amsterdam , Netherlands.
authors.forename: Astrid A M
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: van der Veldt
authors.forename: Egbert F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Adriaan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lammertsma
keywords: [11C]docetaxel; drug delivery; lung cancer; positron emission tomography; radiolabeled anticancer drugs; tumors