Nucl Med Mol Imaging.  2022 Apr;56(2):80-85. 10.1007/s13139-022-00738-6.

Recent Advances in Cancer Imaging with ⁶⁴ CuCl₂ PET/CT

• Peng F

• KMID: 2528458
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s13139-022-00738-6

Abstract

Copper is required for cancer cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis. Radioactive copper-64 chloride ( ⁶⁴ CuCl₂ ) is a useful radiotracer for cancer imaging with position emission tomography (PET) based on increased cellular uptake of copper mediated by human copper transporter 1 (hCtr1) expressed on cancer cell membrane. Significant progress has been made in research of using ⁶⁴ CuCl₂ as a radiotracer for cancer imaging with PET. Radiation dosimetry study in humans demonstrated radiation safety of ⁶⁴ CuCl₂ . Recently, ⁶⁴ CuCl₂ was successfully used for PET imaging of prostate cancer, bladder cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), and non-small cell lung carcinoma in humans. Based on the findings from the preclinical research studies, ⁶⁴ CuCl₂ PET/CT also holds potential for diagnostic imaging of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), malignant melanoma, and detection of intracranial metastasis of copper-avid tumors based on low physiological background of radioactive copper uptake in the brain. Copper-64 radionuclide emits both β ⁺ and β⁻ particles, suggesting therapeutic potential of ⁶⁴ CuCl₂for radionuclide cancer therapy of copper-avid tumors. Recent progress in production of therapeutic copper-67 radionuclide invites clinical research in use of theranostic pair of ⁶⁴ CuCl₂ and ⁶⁷ CuCl₂ for cancer imaging and radionuclide therapy.

Keyword

Positron emission tomography; Copper-64 chloride; Prostate cancer; Bladder cancer; Glioblastoma multiforme; Radionuclide therapy