Recent developments and future aspects of nuclear medicine in oncology

Abstract Recent developments and future aspects of nuclear medicine in oncology were reviewed. As developing fields of nuclear oncology, three topics were reviewed. The first topic is the establishment of human radiation oncology, which includes the establishment of radiotherapy based on the tumor growth kinetics and radiosensitivity of each tumor. Radiopharmaceuticals were introduced for the visualization and quantification of DNA synthesis, hypoxic cells and apoptosis. The second topic is pharmacokinetic study for cancer therapy using specific drugs. For instance, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for malignant melanoma using 10 B-paraboronophenylalanine was introduced. The radiation dose for tumor and normal tissues largely depends on the 10 B-concentration in the tissues; however, it is difficult to measure it directly. 18 F-BPA was developed for visualizing tumor localization and could be used for quantifying the 10 B-concentration of the tumor using positron emission tomography (PET). Gene expression imaging, the third topic, can be performed by two approaches. The first approach is receptor-based imaging. Using a virus vector, a receptor gene, such as the somatostatin receptor, can be transferred to the cells. Then, imaging can be performed using radiolabeled receptor ligands. The second approach is enzyme-based imaging. Gene transfer of herpes simplex thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) into cells and imaging with 124 I-FIAU was introduced.