Molecular imaging techniques in patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2 - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Persistent postoperative low back pain, including persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2 (PSPS-T2), is a global healthcare challenge that lacks objective phenotypic diagnostic criteria or validated biomarkers. Molecular imaging techniques (nuclear medicine) could aid in establishing more objective phenotypical parameters as they are able to visualize biological processes underlying several diseases even before anatomical changes are present. This review aims to provide an overview of the of molecular imaging for the diagnosis of PSPS-T2.

[Ga] labelled Exendin for radioguided surgery of intrapancreatic insulin producing lesions in patients with congenital hyperinsulinism.

Background: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a life threatening disease. Localization of affected intrapancreatic beta cells responsible for focal forms during surgery can be challenging. In this study we investigated a new radioguided surgical (RGS) approach using [Ga]Exendin to facilitate intraoperative focus detection.

[F]FDG PET-CT Imaging of the Low Back in Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type 2: A Pilot Study Towards Improved Diagnosis.

: Diagnosis of Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type 2 (PSPS-T2) currently lacks objective biomarkers. Therefore, this retrospective study aimed to investigate differences in glucose metabolism in the axial musculoskeletal system in PSPS-T2 patients by means of [F]FDG PET-CT imaging. : Nine PSPS-T2 patients (five females, four males; mean age of 53 ± 4.

Differentiated thyroid cancer in two European referral centres: impact of different diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Objective: To evaluate differences in the presentation, diagnostic/therapeutic approaches, and outcome of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) in an Italian and a Dutch referral centre.

Methods: We retrospectively included 919 patients (586 Italian, 333 Dutch), and compared the two cohorts as a whole and according to ATA risk classes. Dynamic risk stratification (DRS) and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS).

The effect of androgen blockade on [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and [F]FDG PET uptake in patients with recurrent or metastatic salivary duct carcinoma: a prospective imaging study.

Background: The expression of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a target for oncological imaging and treatment, is upregulated by androgen blockade in prostate cancer. Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC), an aggressive histological subtype of salivary gland cancer, resembles prostate cancer in terms of PSMA and androgen receptor (AR) expression. A similar upregulation of PSMA in SDC would have implications for future studies with PSMA-targeted imaging and therapy.

miRNA-642a-3p protects β cells from glucolipotoxicity.

The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is tightly linked to obesity. High levels of circulating glucose and saturated free fatty acids (FFAs), known as glucolipotoxicity (GLT), is implicated in β cell dysfunction and/or death. This study aims to identify miRNAs capable of protecting β cells from GLT-induced cell death (GICD).

Theranostics in Perspective: White Paper.

Nuclear medicine has evolved from a diagnostic-oriented speciality toward theranostics. Radionuclide therapy has become a booming business with newer radiopharmaceuticals and indications. Although the specialty of nuclear medicine seems scintillating, several challenges might limit sustained and long-term success.

Validation of radiolabelled exendin for beta cell imaging by ex vivo autoradiography and immunohistochemistry of human pancreas.

Background: Estimation of beta cell mass is currently restricted to evaluating pancreatic tissue samples, which provides limited information. A non-invasive imaging technique that reliably quantifies beta cell mass enables monitoring of changes of beta cell mass during the progression of diabetes mellitus and may contribute to monitoring of therapy effectiveness. We assessed the specificity of radiolabelled exendin for beta cell mass quantification in humans.

Experience in a PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome Expertise Centre: Yield of Thyroid Ultrasound Surveillance in Children with PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome.

Objective: Children with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) are at increased risk for developing thyroid abnormalities, including differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The Dutch PHTS guideline recommends ultrasound surveillance starting from age 18 years. Since the literature describes PHTS patients who developed DTC before this age, the Dutch PHTS expertise center has initiated annual ultrasound surveillance starting from age 12 years.

Histology-Based Radiomics for [F]FDG PET Identifies Tissue Heterogeneity in Pancreatic Cancer.

Radiomics features can reveal hidden patterns in a tumor but usually lack an underlying biologic rationale. In this work, we aimed to investigate whether there is a correlation between radiomics features extracted from [F]FDG PET images and histologic expression patterns of a glycolytic marker, monocarboxylate transporter-4 (MCT4), in pancreatic cancer. A cohort of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients ( = 29) for whom both tumor cross sections and [F]FDG PET/CT scans were available was used to develop an [F]FDG PET radiomics signature.

Multiparametric MRI and F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT for the Detection of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer.

Background Multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) is effective for detecting prostate cancer (PCa); however, there is a high rate of equivocal Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) 3 lesions and false-positive findings. Purpose To investigate whether fluorine 18 (F) prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) 1007 PET/CT after mpMRI can help detect localized clinically significant PCa (csPCa), particularly for equivocal PI-RADS 3 lesions. Materials and Methods This prospective study included participants with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels referred for prostate mpMRI between September 2020 and February 2022.

Adjuvant dendritic cell therapy in stage IIIB/C melanoma: the MIND-DC randomized phase III trial.

Autologous natural dendritic cells (nDCs) treatment can induce tumor-specific immune responses and clinical responses in cancer patients. In this phase III clinical trial (NCT02993315), 148 patients with resected stage IIIB/C melanoma were randomized to adjuvant treatment with nDCs (n = 99) or placebo (n = 49). Active treatment consisted of intranodally injected autologous CD1c+ conventional and plasmacytoid DCs loaded with tumor antigens.

Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen-Targeted Radioguided Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection in Newly Diagnosed Prostate Cancer Patients with a Suspicion of Locoregional Lymph Node Metastases: The DETECT Trial.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radioguided surgery (RGS) aims to optimize the peroperative detection and removal of PSMA-avid lymph node (LN) metastases (LNMs) and has been described in patients with recurrent prostate cancer (PCa). In newly diagnosed PCa patients undergoing pelvic LN dissections, PSMA RGS could guide the urologist toward PSMA-expressing LNMs as identified on preoperative F-PSMA PET/CT imaging. The objective was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of In-PSMA RGS in primary PCa patients with one or more suggestive LNs on preoperative F-PSMA PET/CT.

Qualitative flow metabolic phenotype of pancreatic cancer. A new prognostic biomarker?

Background: Retrospective analysis to investigate the relationship between the flow-metabolic phenotype and overall survival (OS) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and its potential clinical utility.

Methods: Patients with histopathologically proven PDAC between 2005 and 2014 using tumor attenuation on routine pre-operative CECT as a surrogate for the vascularity and [F]FDG-uptake as a surrogate for metabolic activity on [F]FDG-PET.

Results: In total, 93 patients (50 male, 43 female, median age 63) were included.

Subnodal Correspondence of PSMA Expression and USPIO-MRI in Metastatic Pelvic Lymph Nodes in Prostate Cancer.

Objectives: Two advanced imaging modalities used to detect lymph node (LN) metastases in prostate cancer patients are prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography/computed tomography and ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As these modalities use different targets, a subnodal comparison is needed to interpret both their correspondence and their differences. The aim of this explorative study was to compare ex vivo 111 In-PSMA μSPECT images with high-resolution 7 T USPIO μMR images and histopathology of resected LN specimens from prostate cancer patients to assess the degree of correspondence at subnodal level.

PET Imaging and Protein Expression of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen in Glioblastoma: A Multicenter Inventory Study.

Upregulation of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in neovasculature has been described in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), whereas vasculature in nonaffected brain shows hardly any expression of PSMA. It is unclear whether PSMA-targeting tracer uptake on PET is based on PSMA-specific binding to neovasculature or aspecific uptake in tumor. Here, we quantified uptake of various PSMA-targeting tracers in GBM and correlated this with PSMA expression in tumor biopsy samples from the same patients.

Fibroblast Activation Protein-Targeted Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Murine Models for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have a dismal 5 year survival of 9%. One important limiting factor for treatment efficacy is the dense tumor-supporting stroma. The cancer-associated fibroblasts in this stroma deposit excessive amounts of extracellular matrix components and anti-inflammatory mediators, which hampers the efficacy of chemo- and immunotherapies.

New Radiolabeled Exendin Analogues Show Reduced Renal Retention.

PET imaging of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) using radiolabeled exendin is a promising imaging method to detect insulinomas. However, high renal accumulation of radiolabeled exendin could hamper the detection of small insulinomas in proximity to the kidneys and limit its use as a radiotherapeutic agent. Here, we report two new exendin analogues for GLP-1R imaging and therapy, designed to reduce renal retention by incorporating a cleavable methionine-isoleucine (Met-Ile) linker.

Clinical Characteristics, Diagnostic Approach and Outcome of Thyroid Incidental Findings vs. Clinically Overt Thyroid Nodules: An Observational Single-Centre Study.

: Thyroid nodules are common and can present as clinically overt nodules (visible, palpable or symptomatic nodules) and so-called incidentalomas (coincidental findings on imaging techniques). The majority are benign but recognizing clinically relevant nodules remains a challenge. Current Dutch guidelines recommend to refrain from additional diagnostic testing in incidentalomas other than FDG-PET-incidentalomas, unless there are suspicious clinical and/or sonographic features.