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Human radiation dosimetry of [11C]MeAIB, a new tracer for imaging of system A amino acid transport

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Abstract

Purpose

[N-methyl-11C]α-methylaminoisobutyric acid ([11C]MeAIB) is a promising positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for imaging hormonally regulated system A amino acid transport. Uptake of [11C]MeAIB is totally specific for amino acid transport since [11C]MeAIB is metabolically stable both extra- and intracellularly. The aim of this study was to measure cumulated radioactivity in different organs and estimate the absorbed radiation doses to humans with the Medical Internal Radiation Dosimetry (MIRD) method.

Methods

Radiation absorbed doses were calculated from PET images for 25 volunteers. Dynamic acquisition data were obtained for the thoracic, abdominal, femoral and head and neck regions. The median dose of intravenously injected [11C]MeAIB was 422±35 MBq, with a range of 295–493 MBq. After PET imaging the radioactivity in voided urine was measured. Experimental human data were used for residence time estimates. Radiation doses were calculated with commonly used software.

Results

The effective dose for a 70-kg adult was 0.004 mSv/MBq, corresponding to a 1.72 mSv effective dose from the PET study with injection of 430 MBq [11C]MeAIB. The highest absorbed doses were in the pancreas (0.018 mGy/MBq), kidneys (0.017 mGy/MBq), intestine (0.014 mGy/MBq), liver (0.008 mGy/MBq) and stomach (0.005 mGy/MBq). Only 0.57% of injected activity was excreted to urine within 1 h after injection.

Conclusion

Biodistribution of [11C]MeAIB in the abdominal region reflected the high activity of the transportation of amino acids via system A and these organs also had the highest radiation doses. An effective dose of 0.004 mSv/MBq is fully justified when [11C]MeAIB PET is performed to study system A activity in vivo.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the medical laboratory technologists and radiographers of the Turku PET Centre for their skilful assistance and co-operation. We thank Mr. Vesa Oikonen, MSc, for his help in modelling blood and plasma data. We thank Mr. Ian Wilson, PhD, for editing the English.

The project and the study protocol were approved by the joint ethical committee of Turku University and Turku University Central Hospital.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, P.O. Box 52, 20521, Turku, Finland

    Tuula Tolvanen, Katja Havu-Aurén, Eira Kotoneva, Pirjo Nuutila & Heikki Minn

  2. Turku PET Centre, Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory, Turku, Finland

    Kjell Någren & Meixiang Yu

  3. Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Eija Sutinen, Sirkku Jyrkkiö & Heikki Minn

  4. Satakunta Central Hospital, Pori, Finland

    Markku Asola

  5. Department of Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Pirjo Nuutila

Authors
  1. Tuula Tolvanen
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  2. Kjell Någren
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  3. Meixiang Yu
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  4. Eija Sutinen
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  5. Katja Havu-Aurén
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  6. Sirkku Jyrkkiö
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  7. Markku Asola
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  8. Eira Kotoneva
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  9. Pirjo Nuutila
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  10. Heikki Minn
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tuula Tolvanen.

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Tolvanen, T., Någren, K., Yu, M. et al. Human radiation dosimetry of [11C]MeAIB, a new tracer for imaging of system A amino acid transport. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 33, 1178–1184 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-006-0096-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-006-0096-4

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