Development of Ga-68 based PET-Radiopharmaceuticals for Management of Cancer and other Chronic Diseases

The number of PET/CT centres is steadily increasing due to the proven high clinical utility of (F-18)FDG in cancer patients, however not all of them have direct access to a medical cyclotron. The success of PET has led to the research towards other PET tracers, which are in different stages of clinical evaluation. The IAEA has been assisting interested MS in this context with development of fluorine-18 products beyond FDG, as well as in production and utilisation of emerging positron emitters for medical applications with a focus on Copper-64 and Iodine-124. In continuing with this approach, the present CRP seeks to enhance the utilisation of Ga-68, a cyclotron independent, generator produced PET radionuclide.
Gallium-68 is a positron emitter with 68 minutes half life and available from 68Ge/68Ga radionuclide generator system. The long half life (T1/2 271 days) of 68Ge is attractive to operate the generator over a long period of time on a cost effective manner. Radiopharmaceuticals based on 68Ga based somatostatin analogues are attracting interest because of their significant proven potential for the management of patients suffering from neuroendocrine tumours. Other 68Ga-labelled peptides are also showing promise for the diagnosis of other cancer types, such as lung, breast and prostate. Small non-peptide molecules labelled with 68Ga have potential in PET imaging of other indications such as infection, heart or bone disease. In order to ensure safe and efficacious use of 68Ga based PET agents, standardization of radiopharmaceutical preparation, quality assurance and preclinical trails are of utmost priority. The proposed CRP would greatly aid in addressing the above issues as well as the further development of new PET-radiopharmaceuticals based on 68Ga for the diagnosis as well as the monitoring of the therapeutic response of cancer patients.