General Description

The study evaluates a novel strategy for the direct, non-invasive imaging of NETS by PET, which is currently the most sensitive clinical imaging technique. This approach will circumvent the limitations of [18F]Flouro-L-DOPA, a well-studied tracer for clinical applications, with the development of novel tracer element, (18F) FLuoro-D-DOPA .
The study assesses the enzymatically more stable FDOPA isomer, [18F]Fluoro-D-DOPA, for non-invasive in vivo detection of NETs by PET. This study will provide the first evaluation of this tracer for NET imaging and the first comprehensive side-by-side evaluation of [18F]Fluoro-L-DOPA and [18F]Fluoro-D-DOPA in any disease model.
Accumulating literature have suggested LAT1 as a viable diagnostic and prognostic marker,thereby prompting the development of LAT1-targeted imaging agents and therapeutics.The amino acid 3,4-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) is transported to the cytoplasm of neuroendocrine cells by LAT1, where it is metabolized to dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline.
 

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