PET/CT with 18F-BPA for various oncological diseases. The first experience of application in Russia

Purpose : To determine the possibilities of PET/CT with 18 F-FBFA in the diagnostics of oncological diseases. Material and methods : This prospective study included 32 patients with various verified oncological diseases. All patients underwent two consecutive PET/CT studies with two 18 F-FDG and 18 F-BPA. Two parameters were measured for 18 F-BPA: 1) Accumulation in the primary tumor and/or in metastases / recurrent tumors; 2) The tumor to normal tissue ratio (TNR). Results : Data on the physiological accumulation of 18 F-BPA were obtained (the lowest values in the brain were SUV min-max 0.45–2.99 (median 1.42), the highest values were in the oral mucosa SUV min-max 2.24–8.81 (median 4.76). Foci of pathological accumulation of 18 F-BPA corresponding to tumor tissue were identified (the highest values of accumulation of 18 F-BPA were detected in multiple myeloma — SUV max 9.59, the lowest — in nasopharyngeal plasmocytoma — SUV max 4.42). The TNR calculation made it possible to divide patients into 2 groups: TNR ≥ 2,5 (n = 15), TNR < 2,5 (n = 6), determining the potential for BNCT. Conclusion : 18 F-BPA has potential as an independent diagnostic tool. 18 F-BPA deserves attention for study as an agent that allows for differential diagnosis between tumor and non-tumor changes. The further search for the possibilities of using PET/CT with 18 F-BPA on larger cohorts of patients with various oncological diseases planned.