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Core Research Facilities

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Radiochemistry

Stanley J. Goldsmith, M.D. Professor 746-5679
Shankar Vallabhajosula, Ph.D. Professor 746-5694
Lale Kostakoglu, M.D. Associate Professor 746-9066
Klaus Hamacher, Ph.D. Assistant Professor 746-0132
Paresh Kothari, Ph.D. Assistant Professor 746-5691
Peter Capitelli, M.S. Health Physicist 746-5756
Muc Du Administrator 746-5883
Diego Bastidas, M.S. Senior Research Specialist 746-5691
David Yun, B.S., NMT Nuclear Medicine Technologist 746-5828

Facility Description:
The Positron Emission Tomography (PET) facility, which covers about 4,000 square feet of the Imaging Center. is used to scan the entire body or selected organs. Discovery LS (GE Medical Systems) is the first imaging technology to combine today's most sophisticated positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) systems, producing images that provide metabolic and anatomic information at one time. PET precisely measures physiologic function, detects metabolic changes in tissue, displays blood flow, tracks alterations in biochemical processes, images neuroreceptors, and more. It can help physicians evaluate patients for coronary artery bypass or angioplasty procedures, diagnose psychiatric and neurological diseases, assess head trauma and movement disorders, and help diagnose and stage tumor malignancies.

The Radiochemistry facility is essential to the continued widespread utilization and scientific development of PET in that it will produce various positron emitting radiolabeled pharmaceutical tracers and/or drugs designed and engineered to complement the pharmacokinetics of the clinical molecular target. The preparation of these unique drugs requires a source of radionuclide (such as 11C and 18F) and the tools for subsequent synthesis of a drug or a biochemical incorporating the radionuclide. The radiochemistry and the Cyclotron facility will support the production of specific short-lived, positron emitting radionuclides and subsequent synthesis of positron emitting radiopharmaceuticals.



SERVICES PROVIDED:

PET in Oncology:

To differentiate between benign and malignant tumor tissue using [18F]FDG. HCFA approved indications:

Solitary pulmonary nodule
Staging of Lung Cancer
Lymphoma
Breast Cancer
Colorectal cancer
Head and neck Cancer
Melanoma
Thyroid cancer [elevated Tgb; negative I-131]

Quantitative dosimetry of readiolabeled monocloncal antibodies and small molecular weight ligands using Y-86, I-124.

Investigational tumor imaging with [18F] fluorocholine, [18F]fluorotyrosine

PET in Cardiology:

To distinguish viable myocardium from nonviable myocardium in patients with suspected hibernating or stunned myocardium using [18F]FDG.

To identify ischemic disease in patients with coronary artery disease using [13N]Ammonia or 82Rb

PET in Neurology:

To localize seizure focus in patients with epilepsy and intractable complex disorders using [18F]FDG.

To differentiate Alzheimer’s disease from multi-infarct dementia using [18F]FDG.

To assess and grade Parkinson’s disease using [18F]FDOPA

PET in Psychiatry:

To image neuroreceptor (dopamine, serotonin, opiate) modulation in various psychiatric diseases, such as Schizophrenia and depression and drug addiction.

To measure regional cerebral blood flow in various neuro-psychiatric disorders and under different activation conditions using [15O]Water.

PET studies in animal models:

PET imaging studies in a variety of animal models can be performed using positron emitting radiotracers to metabolic status and neuroreceptors.


SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
  1. Goldsmith SJ, Kostakoglu L. Role of Nuclear Medicine in the evaluation of the solitary pulmonary nodule. Semin in Ultrasound, CT MR, 21; 129-138, 2000.
  2. Kostakoglu L, Goldsmith SJ. Positron emission tomography in lymphoma: comparison with computed tomography and Gallium-67 single photon emission tomography. Clin Lymphoma, 1:67-74, 2000, discussion 75-6.
  3. Kostakoglu L, Goldsmith SJ. [F-18] Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in staging and follow-up of lymphoma. Is it time to shift gears? Eur J Nucl Med, 27:1564-1578, 2000.
  4. Kostakoglu L Goldsmith SJ. FDG PET Imaging and Lymphomas. Principles and practice of oncology updates, Eds:DeVita VT, Jr, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, 2003:17:1-12.
  5. Kostakoglu L, Harry Agress, Goldsmith SJ. Clinical role of FDG-PET in the evaluation of cancer patients. Radiographics, 2003:23:315-340. [Selected as the article of the month for the Virtual Journal Club].
  6. Kostakoglu L, Goldsmith SJ. F-18 FDG PET evaluation of response to therapy for lymphoma and breast, lung and colorectal carcinoma. J Nucl Med, 2003:44:224-239.
  7. Vallabhajosula S and M. Buchsbaum: PET studies in Psychiatry: Validity, Accuracy and Future. J Nucl Med 1994;35: 24-26.
  8. Machac J and Vallabhajosula S: Cerebral versus Myocardial Stress perfusion imaging: Role of Pharmacological intervention in the diagnostic assessment of flow reserve. J Nucl Med 1994;35: 41-43.
  9. Vallabhajosula S, Hirschowitz J, Machac J. [123I]IBZM Brain SPECT Imaging in Schizophrenics: Effect of Haloperidol Dose on the Uptake of the Tracer by the Basal Ganglia. J Nucl Med 1997;38:203-207
  10. Vallabhajosula S and Fuster V. Atherosclerosis and Imaging Techniques: Evolving role of Nuclear Medicine. J Nucl Med 1997;38:1788-1796.
  11. Shihabuddin L, Buchsbaum MS, Hazlett EA, Haznedar M, Harvey PD, Newman A, Schnur D, Spiegel-Cohen J, Wei T, Machac J, Knesaurek K, Vallabhajosula S, Biren M, Ciaravolo TM, Luu C. Dorsal striatal size, shape, and metabolic rate in neuroleptic-na•ve and previously-medicated schizophrenic patients performing a verbal learning task. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1997; 55:235-43.
  12. Vallabhajosula, J. Machac, K. Knesaurek, J. Telsey, H. Lipszyc, D.A. Bastidas, Q.H. Zhao, M. Buchsbaum. Imaging atherosclerotic macrophage density by positron emission tomography using F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). J Nucl Med, May, 1996 (abstract)
  13. Shiue CY, Vallabhajosula S, Fowler JS, Dewey SL, Zhou YG, Wolf W: Carbon-11 labeled (+)- and (-)- Ketamine: Synthesis and PET studies in a baboon. J Label Comp and Radiopharm 1988;
  14. Kothari PJ, Finn RD, Bornmann WG, Agus DB, Vera JC and Larson SM: Chemical Consequences Resulting from Multi-millicurie Preparation of 6-[18F]-fluoro-6-deoxy-L-ascorbic Acid., Radiochimica Acta, 77, 87(1997).
  15. Levchenko A., Mehta BM, Lee J, Humm JL, Augensen F, Squire O, Kothari P, Finn R, Leonard EF and Larson SM: Using 11C-Colchicine for Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Multiple Drug Resistance., J. Nucl. Med., 41, 493(2000).
  16. Ugur O, Kothari PJ, Finn RD, Zanzonico P, Ruan S, Guenther I, Maecke HR and Larson SM: Ga-66 Labeled Somatostatin analogue DOTA-Phe 1-Tyr3-octreotide as a Potential Agent for Positron Emission Tomography Imaging and Receptor Mediated Internal Radiotherapy of Somatostatin Receptor Positive Tumors., Nucl. Biol., 29, 147 (2002)

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