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Characterization of preclinical models of prostate cancer using PET-based molecular imaging

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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice spontaneously develop hormone-dependent and hormone-independent prostate cancer (PC) that potentially resembles the human pathological condition. The aim of the study was to validate PET imaging as a reliable tool for in vivo assessment of disease biology and progression in TRAMP mice using radioligands routinely applied in clinical practice: [18F]FDG and [11C]choline.

Methods

Six TRAMP mice were longitudinally evaluated starting at week 11 of age to visualize PC development and progression. The time frame and imaging pattern of PC lesions were subsequently confirmed on an additional group of five mice.

Results

PET and [18F]FDG allowed detection of PC lesions starting from 23 weeks of age. [11C]Choline was clearly taken up only by TRAMP mice carrying neuroendocrine lesions, as revealed by post-mortem histological evaluation.

Conclusion

PET-based molecular imaging represents a state-of-the-art tool for the in vivo monitoring and metabolic characterization of PC development, progression and differentiation in the TRAMP model.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Pasquale Simonelli for technical assistance in animal preparation and imaging experiments and Dr. Maria Grazia Minotti for radiochemical production and quality controls. Supported by grants from: the Italian Ministero della Salute and Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca and by EMIL (European Molecular Imaging Laboratory), Sixth European Program, Project No: LSHC-CT-2004-503569.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Scientific Institute H San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy

    Sara Belloli, Rosa M. Moresco, Maria Picchio, Silvia Valtorta & Ferruccio Fazio

  2. IBFM, CNR, Milan, Italy

    Sara Belloli, Rosa M. Moresco & Maria Picchio

  3. University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

    Sara Belloli, Rosa M. Moresco, Maria Picchio & Ferruccio Fazio

  4. Cancer Immunotherapy and Gene Therapy Program, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy

    Elena Jachetti, Rodrigo Hess Michelini & Matteo Bellone

  5. Pathological Anatomy Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy

    Massimo Freschi

  6. Institute of Radiological Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Michela Lecchi

  7. Fellowship of the Doctorate School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Vita-Salute, San Raffaele Institute, Milan, Italy

    Elena Jachetti

  8. Fellowship of the Doctorate School of Molecular Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Silvia Valtorta

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  1. Sara Belloli
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  2. Elena Jachetti
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  3. Rosa M. Moresco
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Correspondence to Rosa M. Moresco.

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Belloli, S., Jachetti, E., Moresco, R.M. et al. Characterization of preclinical models of prostate cancer using PET-based molecular imaging. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 36, 1245–1255 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-009-1091-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-009-1091-3

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