Is System xc− a Suitable Target for Tumour Detection and Response Assessment with Imaging?

作者：A. R. Sharkey, T. Witney, Gary J. R. Cook · 发表于：Cancers · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.3390/cancers15235573 · 被引用次数：5 · 研究领域：Medicine

Simple Summary The expression of the cysteine–glutamate cotransporter, system xc−, is increased in cancer cells across many cancer types. Imaging system xc− provides new insights into tumour behaviour. The radiotracer (4S)-4-(3-[18F]Fluoropropyl)-L-glutamic acid (18F-FSPG) is specifically transported by system xc−, allowing for a non-invasive method of measuring this transporter’s activity. This review summarises the data available on the use of 18F-FSPG in human cancer patients, exploring its advantages and disadvantages, and suggests possible future uses of 18F-FSPG in the assessment of early treatment response and treatment resistance. Abstract System xc− is upregulated in cancer cells and can be imaged using novel radiotracers, most commonly with (4S)-4-(3-[18F]fluoropropyl)-L-glutamic acid (18F-FSPG). The aim of this review was to summarise the use of 18F-FSPG in humans, explore the benefits and limitations of 18F-FSPG, and assess the potential for further use of 18F-FSPG in cancer patients. To date, ten papers have described the use of 18F-FSPG in human cancers. These studies involved small numbers of patients (range 1–26) and assessed the use of 18F-FSPG as a general oncological diagnostic agent across different cancer types. These clinical trials were contrasting in their findings, limiting the scope of 18F-FSPG PET/CT as a purely diagnostic agent, primarily due to heterogeneity of 18F-FSPG retention both between cancer types and patients. Despite these limitations, a...