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18F-FLT (18F-fluorothymidine, 3’-deoxy-3’-18F-fluorothymidine, Alovudine (18F) injection)
Fluorothymidine is an analogue of the nucleoside thymidine (deoxythymidine). FLT is transported from the blood into cells by active transport. In the cell, FLT is a substrate for thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) and is phosphorylated but is not incorporated into DNA.
The assumption is that the concentration of FLT nucleotides in cells is proportional to TK1 activity and therefore to cellular proliferation.
Monitoring of cellular proliferation through PET is a tool to monitor the response to anticancer treatment.
The principal tests for 18F-FLT are :
|
Test |
Technique / instrument |
|
Appearance |
Visual |
|
Radionuclidic Identity |
Gamma-ray spectroscopy with Multi Channel Analyser (MUCHA) |
|
Radionuclidic Identity |
Half-life determination with a dose calibrator or alternative detector |
|
pH |
pH-meter or pH strips with reading through a reflexion photometer |
|
Chemical purity (Alovudine and related substances) |
Gradient HPLC with UV detector |
|
Impurity kryptofix 222 (aminopolyether) |
Spot test (camera) |
|
Residual solvents |
Gas chromatography |
|
Bacterial endotoxins (LAL) |
Endosafe Portable Test System (nexgen PTS) |
|
Radiochemical purity |
Radio-HPLC |
|
Radiochemical purity |
Radio-TLC |
|
Radiochemical identity |
Radio-HPLC |
|
Osmolality (not compulsory) |
Osmometer |
|
Radionuclidic purity |
Gamma-ray spectroscopy with Multi Channel Analyser (MUCHA) |
|
Sterility |
Compendial method |
|
Radioactivity, volumic activity |
Dose calibrator |