[F-18]MEL050 as a melanin-targeted PET tracer: Fully automated radiosynthesis and comparison to F-18-FDG for the detection of pigmented melanoma in mice primary subcutaneous tumors and pulmonary metastases

摘要

Introduction: Melanoma is a highly malignant cutaneous tumor of melanin-producing cells. MEL050 is a synthetic benzamide-derived molecule that specifically binds to melanin with high affinity. Our aim was to implement a fully automated radiosynthesis of [F-18]MEL050, using for the first time, the AllInOne (TM) synthesis module (Trasis), and to evaluate the potential of [F-18]MEL050 for the detection of pigmented melanoma in mice primary subcutaneous tumors and pulmonary metastases, and to compare it with that of [F-18]FDG.