Recent Advances in Cancer Imaging with 64CuCl2 PET/CT.

Copper is required for cancer cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis. Radioactive copper-64 chloride (64CuCl2) 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 64CuCl2 as a radiotracer for cancer imaging with PET. Radiation dosimetry study in humans demonstrated radiation safety of 64CuCl2. Recently, 64CuCl2 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, 64CuCl2 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 64CuCl2 for 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 64CuCl2 and 67CuCl2 for cancer imaging and radionuclide therapy.