Jurgilewicz, Dorota

English

Via Medica Journals

125
Nuclear Medicine Review 2011, 14, 2: 125–126
10.5603/NMR.2011.00031
Copyright © 2011 Via Medica
ISSN 1506–9680
www.nmr.viamedica.pl
Past
events
The first World Congress on Gallium-68 and Peptide Recep-
tor Radio Nuclide Therapy (PRRNT) took place on 23–26 June 
2011 in Bad Berka, Germany. The main aim of this international 
conference was the presentation of the new concept called “ther-
anostic”, a new idea of using modern radiopharmaceuticals for 
diagnosis and therapy based on molecular targeting.
Over 350 participants from over 50 countries attended the 
meeting. During four days of scientific sessions chemists, phy-
sicians, and investigators dealt with PET radiochemistry, new 
isotope production technologies, mainly 68-Ga generators, 
molecular imaging, and radionuclide therapies. The partici-
pants had the possibility to get a fascinating insight into research 
on the newest concepts, in particular:Ge-68/Ga-68 generators, 
new Ga-68-labelled peptic tracers, Lu-177 and Y-90 production 
chemistry and pre-clinical evaluation, and PRRNT European and 
worldwide experiences. Many speakers emphasized that a new 
era of nuclear medicine imaging is coming. Firstly, developing 
and improving Ge-68/Ga-68 generators will give PET centres in-
dependence from cyclotron isotope production. Secondly, fusion 
of Ga-68 with targeting vectors by dedicated chelators will enable 
imaging of cell processes like apoptosis, carcinogenesis, peptide 
uptake, and inflammation in the earliest stages and in the most 
specific way. Many presentations were devoted to these topics. 
The group from Belgium presented site-specific Ga-68-labelled 
annexin-V and evaluated its suitability for apoptosis imaging. 
The Australians explored the ability of Ga-68 citrate ga-68 apo- 
transferring to detect infection of Staphylococus Aureus. Cathy 
Cutler presented the efforts on developing site-directed imaging 
agents using peptide vectors and nanoparticles. Jae Min Jeong 
gave the idea of cancer hypoxia imaging with Ga-68-labelled 
nitroimidazole derivatives which demonstrated high affinity and 
selectivity for receptors overexpressed by a variety of human 
cancers such as breast, lung, pancreatic, and prostate. An excel-
lent lecture was given by Helmut Maecke about Ga-68-labelled 
peptides targeting G-protein Coupled Receptors with the sur-
 Report from the 1st World Congress 
on Gallium-68 and Peptide Receptor 
Radio Nuclide Therapy (PRRNT), 
Bad Berka (Germany), June 23–26, 2011
prising conclusion that antagonistic peptides may be superior 
to agonists.
Two sessions were devoted to Ga-68 imaging and clinical 
practice. Presenting worldwide experiences gave an opportunity to 
review the status of PET Ga-68 imaging in Europe, Latin and North 
America, India, Mexico, and Rest of the world. Future directions of 
PET/MR imaging were shown with the example of meningioma 
imaging. Other interesting PET studies revealed new advantages of 
Ga-68-labelled tracers in such studies as ventilation/perfusion 
lung scan, PET/CT guided biopsy, or beta-cell activity imaged by 
Ga-68-labelled exendin-4 in patients with diabetes mellitus. A novel 
Ga-68-labelled pteroic acid-based PET tracer for imaging via the 
folate receptor was presented as an ideal target for oncological 
imaging. The molecule is highly overexpressed by several cancer 
forms such as ovary, cervix, endometrium, lung, kidney, and breast.
Imaging and radionuclide therapy of neuroendocrine tu-
mours (NET) was one of the most important sessions. As Wolfram 
H. Knapp, President of EANM, said in his invitation speech, PRRNT 
is an excellent example of the theranostic idea coming to life and 
he is convinced it will spread to other diseases. He emphasized 
that there is a deep need of PRRNT standardisation, dosimetry 
improvement, and confirmation of effectiveness of radionuclide 
therapies by providing randomized multidisciplinary phase III 
clinical trials. It is obligatory for establishing the proper place of 
PRRNT among new upcoming “conventional” targeted therapies.
Sharing European experiences with a round table discussion 
was the most interactive session of the Congress. We are very 
pleased to note that Poland plays an important role on the map of 
the countries providing PRRNT. Jolanta Kunikowska from Warsaw 
Medical University presented Polish experiences in NET radionu-
clide therapy on behalf of the Polish Nuclear Medicine Society. She 
summarized data from ten Polish centres providing this procedure. 
The first PRRNT in a patient with a neuroendocrine tumour was per-
formed in the Nuclear Medicine Department of Warsaw Medical 
University in April 2004. About 1200 therapies of DOTATATE-la-
126
Nuclear Medicine Review 2011, Vol. 14, No. 2
www.nmr.viamedica.pl
Past
events
belled with Y-90, Lu-177, and Y-90/Lu-177 were done and about 
340 patients underwent PRRNT from that time. A group of 177 
patients finalized Y-90 DOTATATE therapies with 17–44 months of 
PFS (Progression Free Survival) and 22-34 months of OS (Overall 
Survival), and a group of 44 patients had been given Y-90/Lu-177 
therapy with 24–28 months of PFS and 50–53 months of OS. The 
protocol of usage of TANDEM of Y-90/Lu-177 isotopes was pre-
sented in the second J. Kunkowska paper showing a strong 
positive effect of such a kind of PRRNT in patients with dissemi-
nated NET. Two other Polish oral presentations were given. Anna 
Sowa-Staszczak from Jagiellonian University presented the pos-
sibility of neoadjuvant usage of PRRNT in treatment of patients with 
inoperable NET. Y-90-DOTATATE therapy enabled surgery in 6 of 
47 patients with large tumours. Jarosław Ćwikła from Warsaw 
presented his experience in intra-arterial Y-90-DOTATATE injec-
tions in patients with clinical or radiological progression of NET.
A total of 61 papers were presented during poster sessions, 
with a few Polish ones. The Polish Institute of Atomic Energy 
POLATOM showed a very efficient and easy to adopt method of 
post-elution concentration and acidity reduction of eluate obtained 
from SnO2-based Ge-68/Ga-68 generator. J. Kunikowska showed 
the superiority of Ga-68-DOTATATE PET scans over Tc99m-Tect-
rotide SPECT visualization of metastatic foci lower than 12 mm in 
patients with disseminated NET.
There is no doubt that the First World Congress on Ga-68 
and Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy was a historical 
event and in the nearest future the “theranostic” idea will spread 
from NET by oncological to all fields of medicine. There were 5 
cyclotrons with 7 PET centres in 1988, 13 cyclotrons and 31 PET 
centres in 1998, and 40 cyclotrons with 110 PET centres in 2008 
in Germany. The Ga-68 PET scan became the “gold standard” in 
NET diagnosis and is the base for proper treatment of patients with 
this disease. There are two cyclotrons and about 15 diagnostic 
PET centres in Poland now.
Dorota Jurgilewicz


Report from the 1st World Congress on Gallium-68 and Peptide Receptor Radio Nuclide Therapy (PRRNT), Bad Berka (Germany), June 23&#8211;26, 2011

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Report from the 1st World Congress on Gallium-68 and Peptide Receptor Radio Nuclide Therapy (PRRNT), Bad Berka (Germany), June 23–26, 2011

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Report from the 1st World Congress on Gallium-68 and Peptide Receptor Radio Nuclide Therapy (PRRNT), Bad Berka (Germany), June 23&#8211;26, 2011

Abstract

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Report from the 1st World Congress on Gallium-68 and Peptide Receptor Radio Nuclide Therapy (PRRNT), Bad Berka (Germany), June 23–26, 2011