A review of new oncotropic tracers for PET imaging

Noninvasive competition for endoscopic ultrasound

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is one of the most significant developments in gastrointestinal (GI) imaging in recent years. EUS now plays a key role in the pretreatment staging of GI tract tumors and in the investigation of benign pancreaticobiliary pathology. It has not replaced conventional cross-sectional imaging (eg, ultrasound, CT, and MRI), but it has distinct properties and capabilities. EUS is most beneficial when used in a complementary fashion with cross-sectional and radionuclide imaging in the management of patients with GI tract disease. This article reviews the role of noninvasive imaging modalities in several clinical situations where EUS plays a prominent role.

The labelling of human serum transferrin with 99mTc and a study concerning uptake of the complex by tumour cells

The direct labelling of serum transferrin (sTf) with 99mTc on high-affinity binding sites, producing a complex of excellent stability, is described. The high-affinity binding sites were prepared by pre-treating sTf with 2-mercaptoethanol. For the radiolabelling step, thiourea was used as an exchange ligand and a filtration procedure used to remove 99mTc that had not complexed with the protein. RT112 bladder tumour cells incubated in the presence of labelled sTf showed a rapid initial uptake of 99mTc, reaching a plateau after about 20 min. Radiolabelling was also carried out without a pre-reduction step in an attempt to form a co-ordination complex between 99mTc and the Fe3+-binding site of sTf, analogous to that formed by Fe3+. The tumour cell uptake of sTf labelled without pre-reduction was then examined. In contrast to 59Fe3+ and other radio-metals co-ordinated with the Fe3+-binding site which show a continuous increase in incorporation with time, the uptake of 99mTc rapidly reached a plateau.

Advances in the early detection, diagnosis, and staging of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease with a dismal prognosis. It has long been regarded as one of the most difficult cancers to accurately diagnose and stage preoperatively. The purpose of this review is to provide an update of the state-of-the-art for early detection, diagnosis, and staging of pancreatic cancer. These methods include spiral CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, laparoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, CA 19-9 serology, fine needle aspiration cytology, ERCP brush cytology, and screening for p53 and ras oncogenes. These advanced techniques should help us to detect pancreatic cancers in high-risk populations at a curative stage and to decrease pancreaticoduodenectomies for benign disease which could otherwise be treated with less morbid procedures. In addition, these tests will help reliably diagnose pancreatic cancer preoperatively.