The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in combination with T(1) and T(2) weighted MRI for the characterisation of renal carcinoma. The institutional review board approved the study protocols and waived informed consent from all of the patients. 47 patients (32 male and 15 female; age range, 21-85 years; median age, 65 years) who had suspected renal lesions on abdominal CT underwent MRI for further evaluation and characterisation of the lesions from April 2005 to August 2007 in our university hospital. A region of interest was drawn around the tumour area on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. Final diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination of surgical specimens from all patients. The ADC value was significantly higher in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) than in transitional cell carcinoma (2.71+/-2.35 x 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1) vs 1.61+/-0.80 x 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1); p = 0.022). While analysing the histological subtypes of RCC, a significant difference in ADC values between clear cell carcinoma and non-clear cell carcinoma was found (1.59+/-0.55 x 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1) vs 6.72+/-1.85 x 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1); p = 0.0004). Similarly, ADC values of RCC revealed a significant difference between positive and negative metastatic lesions (1.06+/-0.38 x 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1) vs 3.02+/-2.44 x 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1); p = 0.0004), whereas intensity on T(1) and T(2) weighted imaging did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, DWI has clinical value in the characterisation of renal carcinomas and could be applied in clinical practice for their management.

Masao Suzuki, LAc, PhD; Shigeo Muro, MD, PhD; Yuki Ando, MSc; Takashi Omori, PhD; Tetsuhiro Shiota, MD, PhD; Kazuo Endo, MD; Susumu Sato, MD, PhD; Kensaku Aihara, MD; Masataka Matsumoto, MD; Shinko Suzuki, MD; Ryo Itotani, MD; Manabu Ishitoko, MD; Yoshikazu Hara, MD; Masaya Takemura, MD, PhD; Tetsuya Ueda, MD, PhD; Hitoshi Kagioka, MD, PhD; Masataka Hirabayashi, MD; Motonari Fukui, MD, PhD; Michiaki Mishima, MD, PhD

10559 Background: Certain amino acids play critical roles in the signal pathway via mTOR which controls tumor progression. L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) is expressed in various types of cancer cells. [18F]-α-methyl tyrosine (18F-FAMT) is transported through LAT1, and is a candidate of tumor-specific radiotracer for PET. Previous studies have revealed that 18F-FAMT PET is useful to differentiate malignant tumors and the uptake is correlated with the LAT1 expression (Chest 2007; 131:1019, Clin Cancer Res 2007; 13: 6369). LAT1 expression is an independent prognostic factor of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Lung Cancer 2009; 66: 120). The present study examined prognostic significance of 18F-FAMT PET in NSCLC. Methods: Eighty-eight patients with stage I to IV NSCLC underwent PET studies prior to therapy. They included 57 patients with adenocarcinoma (AC) and 31 with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Uptake of 18F-FAMT and 18F-FDG was evaluated by the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax). Overall survival (OS) was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the prognostic significance was assessed. Results: SUVmax of 18F-FAMT in AC was significantly lower than that in SCC (p = 0.0031). The SUVmax of 18F-FDG showed no significant difference between AC and SCC. The best discriminative cutoff values of SUVmax for the 18F-FAMT and 18F-FDG in the primary tumors were 1.6 and 11, respectively. In the univariate analysis on all patients, high SUVmax was a significant factors to predict a poor OS in 18F-FAMT (p = 0.0129) and 18F-FDG PET (p = 0.0481). In AC patients, OS rates of patients with high SUVmax of 18F-FAMT (37.7%) was significantly lower than that with low SUVmax (81.5%, p = 0.0027). OS rates of patients with high SUVmax (31.7%) of 18F-FDG was also significantly lower than that with low SUV (65.8%, p = 0.0185). In patients with SCC, however, no significant difference in the OS was observed. Conclusions: 18F-FAMT PET is a potential prognostic marker in patients with pulmonary AC. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Copper-64 was produced by the 64Ni(p, n)64Cu reaction using enriched 64NiO target. We investigated and compared the production yield of 64Cu for proton beams of various energies by using a thick target. Enriched 64Ni was recovered with high yield by simple procedures. Imaging studies using positron emission tomography (PET) and positron emitting tracer imaging system (PETIS) were performed. We obtained clear images in PET and PETIS studies. The results of this study indicate that 64Cu can be utilized as a biomedical tracer for the molecular imaging both in animals and plants.

The predictive value of combined (123)iodine-labelled 15-(p-iodophenyl)-3R,S-methyl pentadecanoic acid imaging ((123)I-BMIPP) and early technetium-99m ((99m)Tc)-tetrofosmin imaging was compared with combined (123)I-BMIPP and delayed (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin or (123)I-BMIPP and thallium-201 ((201)Tl) imaging for functional outcome of stunned myocardium after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in 37 patients with AMI. All patients underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention with/without stenting within 24 h of symptoms. Resting (201)Tl, (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin and (123)I-BMIPP imaging were performed within 10 days of hospital admission; (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin imaging was also performed 6 months later. Segments were mismatched when the (123)I-BMIPP score was greater than the (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin or (201)Tl scores, and were matched when all scores were the same. Left ventricular function was estimated using wall motion score. Sensitivity and regional wall motion were significantly better in mismatching (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin-early/(123)I-BMIPP segments than mismatching (201)Tl/(123)I-BMIPP or (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin-delayed/(123)I-BMIPP segments. It is concluded that mismatching of (123)I-BMIPP and early (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin uptake can predict improvement in wall motion of stunned myocardium better than the other two imaging combinations.

The radionuclide Cu-67 was produced via the Zn-68(p,2p)Cu-67 reaction by irradiating enriched Zn-68 targets with 70 MeV proton beam. Copper-67 was chemically separated from the zinc target by ion-exchange chromatography using Chelex-100 chelating ion-exchange resin. Procedure for recovery of the enriched Zn-68 was developed. The target recovery yield of this method was evaluated to be more than 97%.