Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging DOI 10.1007/s00259-014-2984-3
REVIEW ARTICLE
Radiopharmaceuticals as probes to characterize tumour tissue Israt S. Alam & Mubarik A. Arshad & Quang-Dé Nguyen & Eric O. Aboagye
Received: 17 December 2014 / Accepted: 18 December 2014 # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015
Abstract Tumour cells exhibit several properties that allow them to grow and divide. A number of these properties are detectable by nuclear imaging methods. We discuss crucial tumour properties that can be described by current radioprobe technologies, further discuss areas of emerging radioprobe development, and finally articulate need areas that our field should aspire to develop. The review focuses largely on positron emission tomography and draws upon the seminal ‘Hallmarks of Cancer’ review article by Hanahan and Weinberg in 2011 placing into context the present and future roles of radiotracer imaging in characterizing tumours. Keywords Oncology . Hallmarks . Nuclear imaging . Positron emission tomography . Radiopharmaceuticals
Introduction Normal cells have evolved mechanisms for strict homeostatic control of the way in which they acquire biomass (growth) and divide (proliferation). In contrast, not only do tumours deregulate these mechanisms, they also co-opt tumour-associated normal cells within the stroma or tumour microenvironment to support their habit, consequently becoming autonomous. In 2011, Hanahan and Weinberg described the next generation of ‘hallmarks of cancer’ that capture the diversity of neoplastic disease and conceptualize tumour characteristics crucial to their ability to proliferate, invade adjacent tissues and metastasize to distant organs [1]. They expounded the six originally proposed hallmark capabilities – sustaining proliferative I. S. Alam : M. A. Arshad : Q.
REVIEW ARTICLE
Radiopharmaceuticals as probes to characterize tumour tissue Israt S. Alam & Mubarik A. Arshad & Quang-Dé Nguyen & Eric O. Aboagye
Received: 17 December 2014 / Accepted: 18 December 2014 # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015
Abstract Tumour cells exhibit several properties that allow them to grow and divide. A number of these properties are detectable by nuclear imaging methods. We discuss crucial tumour properties that can be described by current radioprobe technologies, further discuss areas of emerging radioprobe development, and finally articulate need areas that our field should aspire to develop. The review focuses largely on positron emission tomography and draws upon the seminal ‘Hallmarks of Cancer’ review article by Hanahan and Weinberg in 2011 placing into context the present and future roles of radiotracer imaging in characterizing tumours. Keywords Oncology . Hallmarks . Nuclear imaging . Positron emission tomography . Radiopharmaceuticals
Introduction Normal cells have evolved mechanisms for strict homeostatic control of the way in which they acquire biomass (growth) and divide (proliferation). In contrast, not only do tumours deregulate these mechanisms, they also co-opt tumour-associated normal cells within the stroma or tumour microenvironment to support their habit, consequently becoming autonomous. In 2011, Hanahan and Weinberg described the next generation of ‘hallmarks of cancer’ that capture the diversity of neoplastic disease and conceptualize tumour characteristics crucial to their ability to proliferate, invade adjacent tissues and metastasize to distant organs [1]. They expounded the six originally proposed hallmark capabilities – sustaining proliferative I. S. Alam : M. A. Arshad : Q.
