Project Summary 

Early tumour detection and response monitoring require maximum sensitivity and specificity of the imaging method. This project is focused on the clinical evaluation and development of new, more specific molecular tracers for the early detection of tumour cells. A large number of new and potentially more specific tracers than fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) are being tested including amino acid analogues, small tumour-binding peptides, aptamers, peptides binding to mutant p53 proteins and nanoparticles. The assumption is that the more tumour specific the tracer, the more accurately will it be possible to image the true tumour cell density, and more importantly, the true response of the tumour to therapy.

There is also a need to consolidate experience in the use of recently developed molecular tracers to assess radiotherapy and chemotherapy response in order to improve on state-of-the-art treatments. To maximize the sensitivity and tumour image quality, a high-resolution, wide field-of-view, ultra-sensitive fully integrated PET-CT camera, capable of imaging half the human body in a few minutes, will be designed. Furthermore new adaptive therapy planning and biological optimization codes and a dedicated PET-CT detector for incorporation in treatment units will be designed in close corporation with university researchers and SMEs. This will allow an efficient clinical integration and high patient throughput. The associated increase in accuracy of tumour imaging and the three-dimensional in vivo tumour responsiveness data will hopefully allow the clinical introduction of accurate biologically based adaptive treatment optimization methods.

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