Comparison of PET Imaging with ^sup 64^Cu-Liposomes and ^sup 18^F-FDG in the 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-Induced Hamster Buccal Pouch Model of Oral Dysplasia and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Published in: Molecular imaging and biology Vol. 16; no. 2; p. 284
• Main 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
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer Nature B.V 01-04-2014
• ISSN: 1536-1632; 1860-2002
• DOI: 10.1007/s11307-013-0676-1

Currently, 2-deoxy-2-[^sup 18^F]fluoro-d-glucose (^sup 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. ^sup 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 ^sup 64^Cu-liposomes in early and established cancers is assessed and compared with ^sup 18^F-FDG in a head and neck cancer model. 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 ^sup 18^F-FDG and ^sup 64^Cu-liposomes. At 24 h postinjection, ^sup 64^Cu-liposome accumulation exceeded the accumulation of ^sup 18^F-FDG in every pathologic grade. The lesion-to-cheek pouch (background) ratio and lesion-to-brain ratio were also higher for ^sup 64^Cu-liposomes than for ^sup 18^F-FDG. Imaging of a nanotracer such as ^sup 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.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]