Description

Raffel will assess a new PET radiotracer ([18F]3F-PHPG) to see whether it can perform significantly better than current methods (e.g. MIBG) for finding adrenal NETs.

What question will the researchers try to answer?

Is [18F]3F-PHPG a superior radiotracer for PET scans in humans for the diagnosis and localization of NETs in the adrenal system?

Why is this important?

This new radiotracer [18F]3F-PHPG may offer multiple benefits over a similar agent, [123I]MIGB, developed 40 years ago. [18F]3F-PHPG offers same-day imaging and provides high-resolution images that may be better able to find NETs.

What will researchers do?

Raffel will evaluate the diagnostic performance of [18F]3F-PHPG in 24 patients with NETs. The PET images of [18F]3F-PHPG uptake will be directly compared with additional scans using [123I]MIBG or the recently approved PET radiopharmaceutical [68Ga]DOTA-TATE).

How might this improve the treatment of NETs?

Raffel will compare existing approaches with [18F]3F-PHPG to see how it might improve diagnosis and treatment planning for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. In addition, the agent may have the potential to predict radiation dose delivery in [131I]MIBG therapy of NETs.

What is the next step?

If the results of this study demonstrate that [18F]3F-PHPG consistently provides high-quality diagnostic PET images outperforming [123I]MIBG, these clinical data will be leveraged to explore the development of a new radiotherapeutic agent for improved treatment of NETs based on the phenethylguanidine structure.