Publications (11)21.31 Total impact
-
Article: 18[F]FDG small animal PET study of sorafenib efficacy in lymphoma preclinical models.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Kinase inhibitors have been proposed as novel therapeutic agents in different forms of solid tumours. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Sorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, for advanced renal carcinoma and unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. On-going studies are investigating the efficacy of Sorafenib in other solid tumours such as melanoma and non-small cells lung carcinoma and pre-clinical models showed the efficacy of treatment with Sorafenib in murine models of renal cells carcinoma, breast cancer, colon carcinoma and melanoma. To our knowledge, Sorafenib has never been employed in human lymphoma. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of Sorafenib in murine models of human anaplastic large cells lymphoma (ALCL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HD). Sorafenib cytotoxicity was assessed in vitro and growth inhibition (IC50) was calculated. Cells were assayed for Caspase-3 to measure apoptosis. Human ALCL and HD xenografts in NOD/SCID mice were monitored by small animal positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) over time. Tumour bearing animals were randomly selected to receive treatment with Sorafenib or no treatment. Pathology was available in all cases. Sorafenib efficacy on cells proliferation and apoptosis (IC50: HD=0.0343 mg/L; ALCL=0.319 mg/L) was confirmed in vitro. Caspase-3 production showed a dose-dependent trend reaching significantly higher values for 0.046 mg/L and 0.465 mg/L drug concentrations in both cell lines. In vivo experiments showed a progressive increase of tumour lesions metabolism and dimensions regardless treatment. Sorafenib showed a good cytotoxic effect in vitro especially on human HD cell line, but these findings were not confirmed in vivo. The strong discrepancy between in vitro and in vivo results suggests that further studies are needed to better acknowledge the biodistribution and metabolism of Sorafenib in NOD/SCID mice. Factors influencing drug availability at tumour site or differences in the downstream pathways may be responsible for the scarse effect of treatment.The quarterly journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging: official publication of the Italian Association of Nuclear Medicine (AIMN) [and] the International Association of Radiopharmacology (IAR), [and] Section of the Society of... 12/2010; 54(6):689-97. -
Article: Dual PET/CT with (18)F-DOPA and (18)F-FDG in metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma and rapidly increasing calcitonin levels: Comparison with conventional imaging.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To evaluate the role of a multi-imaging PET with (18)F-DOPA and (18)F-FDG in comparison with conventional imaging (CI) in recurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). 18 MTC patients who had thyroidectomy were included; they presented with elevated and rapidly increasing calcitonin levels during follow up. CI had revealed metastatic deposits in 9 patients. Patients were referred to us for a PET/CT with (18)F-DOPA and (18)F-FDG. Histologic/cytologic confirmation of recurrent MTC was obtained in at least one PET-positive lesion in all patients. Foci of abnormal uptake were observed in 15 patients at (18)F-DOPA and in 11 at (18)F-FDG; 8 patients showed the same number of positive lesions with both tracers, 2 showed more lesions on (18)F-FDG, 1 was positive at (18)F-FDG alone and 5 at (18)F-DOPA alone. In 3 patients with a DOPA-positive loco-regional relapse a re-operation with curative intent was offered. SUV(max) values were higher for (18)F-FDG compared to (18)F-DOPA (mean 12.7+/-4.1 vs. 5.5+/-2.1, p<0.05). Calcitonin was higher in PET-positive patients compared to PET negative ones, while no significant differences were observed between (18)F-DOPA and (18)F-FDG positive patients. In MTC patients with rapidly increasing calcitonin levels during follow up, (18)F-DOPA has a good sensitivity and a complementary role with (18)F-FDG PET/CT in detecting metastatic deposits. In our experience, the sensitivity of a multi-imaging (18)F-DOPA &(18)F-FDG PET/CT approach is greater than that obtained with CI. The higher SUV(max) values found with (18)F-FDG in some patients may reflect more aggressive tumors.European journal of surgical oncology: the journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and the British Association of Surgical Oncology 04/2010; 36(4):414-21. · 2.56 Impact Factor -
Article: Imaging of NETs with PET radiopharmaceuticals.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) diagnosis has represented a major challenge in the past decades. The introduction of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in the diagnostic work-up led to a significant improvement of accuracy. However with the advent of positron emission tomography (PET) that presents a higher spatial resolution as compared to the gamma camera and an array of different radiotracers, it is now possible to image NET with an even higher accuracy. In fact, PET imaging of NET is a rapidly evolving field closely connected to the development of novel beta-emitting radiopharmaceuticals. NET can be easily visualized on PET scans using an array of both metabolic and receptor-based tracers. [18F]DOPA and [68Ga]DOTA-peptides (DOTA-TOC, DOTA-NOC, DOTA-TATE) are very promising to image well differentiated NET and were reported to be superior to other imaging modalities (computed tomography [CT], somatostatin receptor scintigraphy). On the contrary, the role of [18F]FDG is limited in well differentiated NET, due to their low glucose metabolism and growth rate, while it still can provide valuable information in less differentiated tumours. On-going studies are investigating the potential role of new imaging agents (bombesin, GLP-1, CCK) that specifically bind to receptors expressed on NET cells.The quarterly journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging: official publication of the Italian Association of Nuclear Medicine (AIMN) [and] the International Association of Radiopharmacology (IAR), [and] Section of the Society of... 02/2010; 54(1):16-23. -
Conference Proceeding: Quantitative cardiac dynamic imaging of small animal PET images using cluster analysis
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Quantitative PET imaging requires a dynamic scan in order to measure the arterial input function and the tissue time-activity curves. By combining these two curves with adequate mathematical models it is possible to obtain useful physiological information such as the metabolic rate, perfusion, receptors density etc. Cluster Analysis (CA) allows to group pixels having the same kinetic. In this work the performance of two clustering algorithms were assessed. The user must supply a set of images acquired at different time points and the number of clusters. The choice of the correct number of clusters was performed by using a parsimony criteria. In order to test the CA method real dynamic small animal PET data were acquired. Image derived arterial input function and myocardial FDG uptake were measured. Results showed that CA allow us to obtain accurate tissue time activity curves without the need of manual region on interest delineation.Computers in Cardiology, 2008; 10/2008 -
Article: Conventional and novel PET tracers for imaging in oncology in the era of molecular therapy.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: In the last ten years, the development of several novel targeted drugs and the refinement of state of the art technologies such as the genomics and proteomics and their introduction to clinical practice have revolutionized the management of patients affected by cancer. However, everyday practice points out several clinical questions: the difficulty of response assessment to new drugs especially using standard RECIST criteria that do not provide information on biological, vascular or metabolic variations; the inadequate selection of patients who are likely to benefit from a targeted therapy excluding those with breast cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumours; the need to know the global biological background of diseases especially in metastatic setting using repeatable non-invasive procedures. Molecular imaging could provide information on in vivo distribution of biological markers in response to targeted therapy and could improve the selection of patients before therapies. The aim of this review is to analyze the current role of conventional and innovative positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers in clinical practice and to explore the promising perspectives of molecular imaging in cancer research.Cancer Treatment Reviews 05/2008; 34(2):103-21. · 6.05 Impact Factor -
Article: PET in genitourinary tract cancers.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Genitourinary (GU) tract cancers comprise a variety of tumors, which includes some of the most common malignancies in men and women. As a result of the importance of GU neoplasms and the success of positron emission tomography (PET) in imaging and staging cancer, PET with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) has been used to depict and stage ovarian, cervical and testicular cancers. The early success of FDG PET in imaging GU tumors is tempered by the fact that some neoplasms of GU origin do not accumulate sufficient FDG for successful imaging. As a result, alternative agents, such as [11C]choline and [11C]acetate, have been used to image prostate cancer and may have utility in bladder cancer, while other PET agents are currently under active evaluation for this and other GU neoplasms. In this paper, we review the current literature and our experience in role of PET in imaging cancers of the GU tract.The quarterly journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging: official publication of the Italian Association of Nuclear Medicine (AIMN) [and] the International Association of Radiopharmacology (IAR), [and] Section of the Society of... 10/2007; 51(3):260-71. -
Article: Incidental finding of an (11)C-choline PET-positive solitary plasmacytoma lesion.
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine 01/2007; 33(12):1522. · 4.53 Impact Factor -
Article: 18F-FDG PET/CT in the assessment of carcinoma of unknown primary origin.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Metastatic cancers of unknown primary origin are characterised by a poor prognosis, with a survival rate from diagnosis of approximately 12 months. Conventional radiological imaging allows detection of 20%-27% of primary cancers, whereas the detection rate with positron emission tomography (PET) is 24%-40%. The aim of this study was to assess the role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/computed tomography (CT) in the identification of occult primary cancers. The study population consisted of 38 consecutive patients with histologically proven metastatic disease and negative or nonconclusive conventional diagnostic procedures. All patients were studied by 18F-FDG PET performed according to the standard procedure (6 h of fasting, intravenous injection of 370 MBq 18F-FDG, and image acquisition with a PET/CT scanner for 4 min per bed position). 18F-FDG-PET/CT detected the occult primary cancer in 20 cases (53%), showing higher sensitivity than that reported for any other imaging modality, including PET. The encouraging results, if validated by larger series, support the use of PET/CT in patients with carcinoma of unknown primary origin and negative conventional imaging results.La radiologia medica 01/2007; 111(8):1146-55. · 1.44 Impact Factor -
Article: Incidental finding of an 11C-choline PET-positive solitary plasmacytoma lesion
European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging 01/2006; 33(12):1522-1522. · 4.99 Impact Factor -
Article: Dual PET/CT with 18F-DOPA and 18F-FDG in metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma and rapidly increasing calcitonin levels: Comparison with conventional imaging
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: BackgroundTo evaluate the role of a multi-imaging PET with 18F-DOPA and 18F-FDG in comparison with conventional imaging (CI) in recurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).Methods18 MTC patients who had thyroidectomy were included; they presented with elevated and rapidly increasing calcitonin levels during follow up. CI had revealed metastatic deposits in 9 patients. Patients were referred to us for a PET/CT with 18F-DOPA and 18F-FDG. Histologic/cytologic confirmation of recurrent MTC was obtained in at least one PET-positive lesion in all patients.ResultsFoci of abnormal uptake were observed in 15 patients at 18F-DOPA and in 11 at 18F-FDG; 8 patients showed the same number of positive lesions with both tracers, 2 showed more lesions on 18F-FDG, 1 was positive at 18F-FDG alone and 5 at 18F-DOPA alone. In 3 patients with a DOPA-positive loco-regional relapse a re-operation with curative intent was offered. SUVmax values were higher for 18F-FDG compared to 18F-DOPA (mean 12.7 ± 4.1 vs. 5.5 ± 2.1, p < 0.05). Calcitonin was higher in PET-positive patients compared to PET negative ones, while no significant differences were observed between 18F-DOPA and 18F-FDG positive patients.ConclusionsIn MTC patients with rapidly increasing calcitonin levels during follow up, 18F-DOPA has a good sensitivity and a complementary role with 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting metastatic deposits. In our experience, the sensitivity of a multi-imaging 18F-DOPA & 18F-FDG PET/CT approach is greater than that obtained with CI. The higher SUVmax values found with 18F-FDG in some patients may reflect more aggressive tumors.European Journal of Surgical Oncology (EJSO). -
Article: 18F-FDG small animal PET for early detection of human anaplastic large cells lymphoma xenograft in immunocompromised mice.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The purpose of the present study was to assess if small animal PET is useful for serially monitoring the development of a human anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) murine xenograft and for the early selection of tumour bearing animals. The human ALCL Karpas 299 cell line was subcutaneously injected in 6-week-old NOD/SCID (non-obese diabetic/NCrCrl- Prkdc) mice (10(7) cells/mouce in 150 pil FBS) at the right flank level. Small animal 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) was serially performed (intravenous injected dose: 20 MBq in < 0.15 ml, uptake time: 60 min, image acquisition: 1 bed position of 15 min): early PET at 2 days after cell inoculation in 4/8 mice and at 4 days in the remainig 4/8, later PET scans were performed in all the animals at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after inoculation. The images were evaluated visually and the tumour to background ratio (TBR) was used for semiquantitative analysis. Pathology sections were obtained in all cases. PET detected the presence of the tumour as early as seven days after inoculation in 4/8 mice and at 14 days in 2/8. Of the two remaining mice, one died after the first PET scan (thus preventing any evaluation of detection time) while the other showed a microscopic neoplastic infiltration at tracheal level at autopsy. Mean TBR progressively increased in all positive cases, particularly in the first 3 weeks, reaching a plateau afterwards. PET was positive in 6/8 (75%) animals, detecting the presence of viable tumour cells earlier than macroscopic evaluation, thus may be used for the early identification of tumour bearing animals.Anticancer research 28(2A):981-7. · 1.73 Impact Factor
Top co-authors
Top Journals
Institutions
-
2010
-
University of Bologna
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
-
-
2006–2007
-
Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
-
