C-11 ACETATE PET IMAGING OF PROSTATE CANCER

Abstract

11 C-Acetate can act as a probe of tissue metabolism through entry into catabolic or anabolic metabolic pathways as mediated by acetyl-coenzyme A. The uptake of 11 C-acetate in prostate cancer was investigated to determine whether this tracer has potential in tumor identification.Methods: Twenty-two patients with prostate cancer underwent PET after intravenous administration of 740 MBq 11 C-acetate.Eighteen of the 22 patients were also investigated with 18 F-FDG PET.Standardized uptake values (SUVs) for each tumor were investigated for tracer activity at 10 -20 min after 11 C-acetate and 40 -60 min after 18 F-FDG administration.Results: Adenocarcinoma of the prostate showed variable uptake of 11 C-acetate, with SUVs ranging from 3.27 to 9.87.In contrast, SUVs for 18 F-FDG ranged from 1.97 to 6.34.By visual inspection, 11 C-acetate accumulation in primary prostate tumors was positive in all patients, whereas 18 F-FDG accumulation was positive in only 15 of 18 patients. 11C-Acetate PET in a patient with lymph node metastasis showed high intrapelvic accumulation corresponding to metastatic sites.Similarly, 2 patients with bone metastases were 11 C-acetate avid.Conclusion: 11 C-Acetate shows marked uptake in prostate cancer and is more sensitive in detection of prostate cancer than is 18 F-FDG PET. 11C-Acetate represents a new tracer for detection of prostate cancer with PET, measuring radiopharmaceutical uptake pathways that are different from those measured by 18 F-FDG.