Tumour hypoxia: lessons learnt from preclinical imaging

Abstract

Purpose

In tumour, the imbalance between oxygen supply and demand leads to hypoxia, which represents a negative prognostic factor associated with aggressive tumour phenotype and therapy resistance. This review provides an overview of the use of positron emitter-labelled radiopharmaceutical used to image hypoxia in preclinical models of cancer.

Methods

A critical and comprehensive PubMed search was performed identifying articles related to PET imaging for hypoxia assessment in preclinical setting from January 2007 up to January 2017.

Results

We have considered and described a total of 54 original articles, exploring tumour-associated hypoxia in preclinical models. Results underlined the potential application together with the advantages and pitfalls of the use of PET in preclinical research. Multi-target imaging allowed to better define the relationship between hypoxia and other biological hallmarks of tumour; imaging of hypoxia was proved as a useful tool for lesions stratification and response prediction to radiotherapy; however, cutoff indexes were identified in few studies. Hypoxia PET showed remarkable tracer delivery limitations in the study of vascular disrupting agents but suggested the potential use of PET as a marker of response or resistance to anti-angiogenics. Finally, the effect of anaesthesia on tracer kinetics and tumour oxygenation as well as perfusion dependency in tracer uptake should be carefully evaluated to avoid artefactual results.

Conclusions

Preclinical studies highlight the advantages and the limitations of the available hypoxia-radiotracers and their potential usefulness for the evaluation of treatments outcome and radiotherapy planning.

from # All Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis via Alexandros G.Sfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2x30QDS
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