Radiosynthesis of 3 '-deoxy-3 '-[F-18]fluorothymidine: [F-18]FLT for imaging of cellular proliferation in vivo

A reliable radiosynthesis of 3'-deoxy-3'-[F-18]fluorothymidine ([F-18]FLT) has been developed based on [F-18]fluoride displacement of a protected nosy late precursor. A simple three-step synthesis is described that is useful f or preparing >10 mCi (370 MBq) of radiochemically pure [F-18]FLT, with a sp ecific activity >1 Ci/mu mol (37 GBq/mu mol) at EOS within 100 min and in 1 3% radiochemical yield tend of bombardment (EOB); 7% end of synthesis (EOS) . [F-18]FLT has been designed as a new positron emission tomography imaging agent for visualizing cellular proliferation in vivo based on the metaboli sm of thymidine. NUCL MED BIOL 27;2:143-156, 2000. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e Inc. All rights reserved.