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Evaluation of [1-11C]-α-aminoisobutyric acid for tumor detection and amino acid transport measurement: spontaneous canine tumor studies

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Abstract

Alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB), or α-methyl alanine, is a nonmetabolized amino acid transported into cells, particularly malignant cells, predominantly by the ‘A’ amino acid transport system. Since it is not metabolized, [1-11C]-AIB can be used to quantify A-type amino acid transport into cells using a relatively simple compartmental model and quantitative imaging procedures (e.g. positron tomography). The tissue distribution of [1-11C]-AIB was determined in six dogs bearing spontaneous tumors, including lymphosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, mammary carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Quantitative imaging with tissue radioassay confirmation at necropsy showed poor to excellent tumor localization. However, in all cases the concentrations achieved appear adequate for amino acid transport measurement at known tumor locations. The observed low normal brain (due to blood-brain barrier exclusion) and high (relative to brain) tumor concentrations of [1-11C]-AIB suggest that this agent may prove effective for the early detection of human brain tumors.

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Author notes

  1. Rodney E. Bigler & Pat B. Zanzonico

    Present address: Division of Nuclear Medicine, The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York, USA

  2. E. Gregory MacEwen

    Present address: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 53715, Madison, WI, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Cornell University, New York, USA

    Rodney E. Bigler, Pat B. Zanzonico, Bernard Schmall, Peter S. Conti, J. Robert Dahl, Laurie Rothman & George Sgouros

  2. Sloan-Kettering Division, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, USA

    Rodney E. Bigler, Pat B. Zanzonico, Bernard Schmall, Peter S. Conti, J. Robert Dahl, Laurie Rothman & George Sgouros

  3. The Animal Medical Center, New York, USA

    E. Gregory MacEwen

Authors
  1. Rodney E. Bigler
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  2. Pat B. Zanzonico
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  3. Bernard Schmall
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  4. Peter S. Conti
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  6. Laurie Rothman
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  7. George Sgouros
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  8. E. Gregory MacEwen
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Bigler, R.E., Zanzonico, P.B., Schmall, B. et al. Evaluation of [1-11C]-α-aminoisobutyric acid for tumor detection and amino acid transport measurement: spontaneous canine tumor studies. Eur J Nucl Med 10, 48–55 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00261763

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00261763

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