Head and neck tumors angiogenesis imaging with 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD in comparison to 18F-FDG PET/CT: A pilot study.

Abstract

Background : Angiogenesis plays an important role in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) progression. This pilot study was designed to compare the distribution of 68 Ga-NODAGA-RGD PET/CT for imaging α v β 3 integrins involved in tumor angiogenesis to 18 F-FDG PET/CT in patients with HNSCC. Material and methods : Ten patients (aged: 58.4 ± 8.3 years [range: 44–73 years], 6 males, 4 females) with a total of 11 HNSCC were prospectively enrolled. Activity mapping and standard uptake values (SUV) from both 68 Ga -NODAGA-RGD and 18 F-FDG PET/CT scans were recorded for primary tumor and compared with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The relation between the SUV of both tracers was assessed using the Spearman correlation. Results : All HNSCC tumors were visible with both tracers. Quantitative analysis showed higher 18 F-FDG SUV max in comparison to 68 Ga-NODAGA-RGD (14.0 ± 6.1 versus 3.9 ± 1.1 g/mL, p=0.0017) and SUV mean (8.2 ± 3.1 versus 2.0 ± 0.8 g/mL, p=0.0017). Both 18 F-FDG and 68 Ga-NODAGA-RGD uptake were neither correlated with grade, HPV nor p16 protein expression (p≥0.17). Conclusion : All HNSCC tumors were detected with both tracers with higher uptake with 18 F-FDG, however. 68 Ga-NODAGA-RGD has a different spatial distribution than 18 F-FDG bringing different tumor information.

Imaging Angiogenesis in Atherosclerosis in Large Arteries with 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD PET/CT: Relationship with Clinical Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

“…The population of this retrospective study consisted of consecutive patients who had been referred to our institution for a 68 Ga-NODAGA-RGD PET/CT within clinical study protocols. Included in this analysis were trials assessing tumoral angiogenesis (NCT02666547, NCT03475134), cardiac lesions angiogenesis (NCT03809689), and in ammatory atheromatous plaques in the carotid arteries (NCT01608516) (14,15).…”

“…Hence, a few RGD-based PET agents have been tested for imaging integrin in atherosclerosis, mainly in preclinical models (7)(8)(9)(10)(11), and in two recent clinical evaluations (12,13). 68 Ga-NODAGA-RGD is an emerging RGD-based PET radiotracer with strong a nity for the αvβ3 integrin (14,15). We hypothesized that 68 Ga-NODAGA-RGD may act as an imaging marker of in ammation and angiogenesis in atherosclerosis.…”