Table 2 Radiotracers in the evaluation of tumor characteristics
Radiotracer | Biological Correlation | Tumor Type | Main indications |
|---|---|---|---|
FDG | Energetic glycolytic metabolism | Many tumor types | Diagnosis, staging, response, prognostic value, relapsing tumor |
Choline radiotracers | Cellular membrane turnover and phosphatidylcholine metabolism | Prostate Bladder, Brain | Diagnosis, staging, relapsing tumor |
Methionine | Amino acid transport and protein synthesis | Brain and head and neck | Diagnosis, grading, response, prognostic value, relapsing tumor |
Acetate | Lipid synthesis and energetic metabolism | Prostate Hepatocellular carcinoma | Diagnosis, staging, relapsing tumor |
DOPA | Dopamine uptake and metabolism | Neuroendocrine tumors | Diagnosis, staging, relapsing tumor |
FLT | Cellular proliferation and tyrosine kinases-1 activity | Lung, Lymphoma, Colorectal. Gastric and Pancreas | Diagnosis and tumor response |
Sigma-2 (σ2) Receptor | σ2 receptors are expressed in proliferating tumor cells |  | Diagnosis and treatment evaluation |
Integrin targeted Imaging agents (RGD) and VEGFR targeted Imaging agents | Angiogenesis | Â | Preclinical use |
Annexin V | Tumor Apoptosis | Â | Preclinical use |
Nitroimidazoles (FAZA, FMISO) Cu-ATSM | Tumor hypoxia | Â | Preclinical use |
Radiotracers Specific Tumor Types | |||
 Radiotracers Targeting Specific Tumor Markers | EGFR expression PSMA expression Chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) DOTA-peptides (Somatostatin receptors) Bombesin receptors | Lung, Colorectal Prostate Breast and head and neck cancer metastasis Neuroendocrine tumors Prostate, breast, small cell lung cancer, GIST | Preclinical use Relapsing tumor. Staging and tumor response Preclinical use Diagnosis, staging, relapsing tumor, response assessment |
Non-Tumoral metabolic pathways | |||
 NaF | Bone metabolism (non-specific tumor tracer) | Bone metastases | Diagnosis and staging |