Dosimetry of organs and tumors helps to assess risks and benefit of treatment with Lu-DOTATATE/DOTATOC. However, it is often not performed in clinical routine because of additional efforts, the complexity of data collection and analysis, and the additional burden for the patients. Aiming at a simplification of dosimetry, we analyzed the accuracy of a theoretically substantiated approximation, which allows the calculation of absorbed doses from a single measurement of the abdominal activity distribution. Activity kinetics were retrospectively assessed from planar images in 29 patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs; = 21) or meningioma ( = 8) after the administration of Lu-DOTATATE ( = 22) or Lu-DOTATOC ( = 7). Mono- or biexponential functions were fitted to measured data in 54 kidneys, 25 livers, 27 spleens, and 30 NET lesions. It was evaluated for each fit function how well the integral over time was represented by an approximation calculated as the product of the time t of a single measurement, the expected reading at time t, and the factor 2/ln(2). Tissue-specific deviations of the approximation from the time integral were calculated for time points t of 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 h. The correlation between time integral and approximation improved with increasing time t Pearson r exceeded 0.95 for a t of 96 h or more in all tissues. The lowest maximum errors were observed at a t of 96 h, with deviations of the approximation from the time integral of median +5% (range, -9% to +17%) for kidneys, +6% (range, -7% to +12%) for livers, +8% (range, +2% to +20%) for spleens, and +6% (range, -11% to +16%) for NET lesions. Accuracy was reduced for measurements after 72 or 120 h. For measurements after 24, 48, and 144 h, the approximation led to large deviations for some of the patients, in particular unacceptable underestimates of the absorbed dose to the kidneys. A single quantitative measurement of the abdominal activity concentration by SPECT/CT 4 d after the administration ofLu-DOTATATE/DOTATOC provides a 3-dimensional dose map and can be used to estimate the doses actually absorbed in the treatment cycle with minor additional resources and effort.

Chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is a key factor for tumor growth and metastasis in several types of human cancer. Based on promising experiences with a radiolabeled CXCR4 ligand ( 68 Ga-pentixafor) for diagnostic receptor targeting, 177 Lu-and 90 Y-pentixather were recently developed as endoradiotherapeutic vectors. Here, we summarize the first-in-human experience in 3 heavily pretreated patients with intramedullary and extensive extramedullary manifestations of multiple myeloma undergoing CXCR4-directed endoradiotherapy. Methods: CXCR4 target expression was demonstrated by baseline 68 Ga-pentixafor PET. Each treatment was approved by the clinical ethics committee. Pretherapeutic 177 Lu-pentixather dosimetry was performed before 177 Lu-pentixather or 90 Y-pentixather treatment. Subsequently, patients underwent additional chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for bone marrow rescue. Results: A remarkable therapeutic effect was visualized in 2 patients, who showed a significant reduction in 18 F-FDG uptake. Conclusion: CXCR4-targeted radiotherapy with pentixather appears to be a promising novel treatment option in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation, especially for patients with advanced multiple myeloma.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) is a key factor for tumor growth and metastasis in several types of human cancer including multiple myeloma (MM). Proof-of-concept of CXCR4-directed radionuclide therapy in MM has recently been reported. This study assessed the diagnostic performance of the CXCR4-directed radiotracer [ 68 Ga]Pentixafor in MM and a potential role for stratifying patients to CXCR4-directed therapies. Thirty-five patients with MM underwent [ 68 Ga]Pentixafor-PET/CT for evaluation of eligibility for endoradiotherapy. In 19/35 cases, [ 18 F]FDG-PET/CT for correlation was available. Scans were compared on a patient and on a lesion basis. Tracer uptake was correlated with standard clinical parameters of disease activity.[ 68 Ga]Pentixafor-PET detected CXCR4-positive disease in 23/35 subjects (66%). CXCR4-positivity at PET was independent from myeloma subtypes, cytogenetics or any serological parameters and turned out as a negative prognostic factor. In the 19 patients in whom a comparison to [ 68 Ga]Pentixafor-PET provides further evidence that CXCR4 expression frequently occurs in advanced multiple myeloma, representing a negative prognostic factor and a potential target for myeloma specific treatment. However, selecting patients for CXCR4 directed therapies and prognostic stratification seem to be more relevant clinical applications for this novel imaging modality, rather than diagnostic imaging of myeloma.

No abstract

Purpose Investigating the value of 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT in biochemically recurring prostate cancer patients with negative 18F-choline-PET/CT. Patients and Methods One hundred thirty-nine consecutive patients with biochemical recurrence after curative (surgery and/or radiotherapy) therapy were offered participation in this sequential clinical imaging approach. Patients first underwent an 18F-choline-PET/CT. If negative, an additional 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CTwas offered. One hundred twenty-five of 139 eligible patients were included in the study; 32 patients underwent additional 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT. Patients with equivocal findings (n = 5) on 18F-choline-PET/CT and those who declined the additional 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT (n = 9) were excluded. Images were analyzed visually for the presence of suspicious lesions. Findings on PET/CT were correlated with PSA level, PSA doubling time (dt), and PSA velocity (vel). Results The overall detection rates were 85.6% (107/125) for the sequential imaging approach and 74.4% (93/125) for 18F-choline-PET/CT alone. 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT detected sites of recurrence in 43.8% (14/32) of the choline-negative patients. Detection rates of the sequential imaging approach and 18F-choline-PET/CT alone increased with higher serum PSA levels and PSA vel. Subgroup analysis of 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT in 18F-choline negative patients revealed detection rates of 28.6%, 45.5%, and 71.4% for PSA levels of 0.2 or greater to less than 1 ng/mL, 1 to 2 ng/mL, and greater than 2 ng/mL, respectively. Conclusions The sequential imaging approach designed to limit 68Ga-PSMA imaging to patients with negative choline scans resulted in high detection rates. 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT identified sites of recurrent disease in 43.8% of the patients with negative 18F-choline PET/CT scans.