Comparison of PET imaging with 64Cu-liposomes and 18F-FDG in the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch model of oral dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • PURPOSE: Currently, 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) is the gold standard radiotracer for staging of head and neck cancer; however, the low sensitivity of this tracer can impede detection of early lesions. (64)Cu-liposomes accumulate in various cancers and provide both a sensitive tracer and an indication of the biodistribution of nanotherapeutics. Here, the accumulation of (64)Cu-liposomes in early and established cancers is assessed and compared with (18)F-FDG in a head and neck cancer model. METHODS: Lesions ranging from mild dysplasia to squamous cell carcinoma were induced in a hamster model of head and neck cancer by topical application of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene to the buccal pouch. The hamsters were imaged with micro-positron emission tomography using (18)F-FDG and (64)Cu-liposomes. RESULTS: At 24 h postinjection, (64)Cu-liposome accumulation exceeded the accumulation of (18)F-FDG in every pathologic grade. The lesion-to-cheek pouch (background) ratio and lesion-to-brain ratio were also higher for (64)Cu-liposomes than for (18)F-FDG. CONCLUSION: Imaging of a nanotracer such as (64)Cu-liposomes can improve the visualization of head and neck tumors. Accumulation of liposomal particles in head and neck tumors over various pathologic grades averaged 3.5%ID/cc demonstrating the potential for liposomal therapy with targeted chemotherapeutic agents.

published proceedings

  • Mol Imaging Biol

author list (cited authors)

  • Mahakian, L. M., Farwell, D. G., Zhang, H., Seo, J. W., Poirier, B., Tinling, S. P., ... Ferrara, K. W.

citation count

  • 25

complete list of authors

  • Mahakian, Lisa M||Farwell, D Gregory||Zhang, Hua||Seo, Jai Woong||Poirier, Brian||Tinling, Steven P||Afify, Alaa M||Haynam, Eric M||Shaye, David||Ferrara, Katherine W

publication date

  • January 2014