(September 13, 2023) Webinar: Seeing Double: Preclinical Multiplexed PET for Dual Isotope Imaging
Overview:
In this webinar, Dr. Edwin C. Pratt discussed the realm of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and explained the innovative concept of multiplexed PET. This new scientific advancement makes it possible to perform simultaneous imaging with two different isotopes providing more in depth information with a single scan.
Key Takeaways:
- Multiplexed PET is a new reconstruction method to identify and separate positron from positron-prompt gamma emissions without new hardware from list mode PET scanners or energy discrimination of events.
- Multiplexed PET is a quantitative method that is agnostic to the type of radiotracer used (IE no compartment modeling). Only a simple uniformity and sensitivity phantom is required.
- Acquisition has been shown in a variety of preclinical and clinical PET scanners, though not all scanners can natively acquire data for multiplexing.
- Multiplexed PET enables faster throughput for screening radiotracers, or conversely two tracer information of a tissue of interest, like imaging the tumor microenvironment for two immune populations.
*Pratt, E.C., Lopez-Montes, A., Volpe, A. et al. Simultaneous quantitative imaging of two PET radiotracers via the detection of positron–electron annihilation and prompt gamma emissions. Nat. Biomed. Eng (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-023-01060-y
PET imaging is a powerful noninvasive imaging modality based on the detection of the annihilation gamma rays from the positrons emitted by an administered radiotracer. Reconstruction methods for PET focus on this methodology, excluding coincidences from isotopes that emit gamma rays in addition to the positron emission. Here, multiplexed PET leverages prompt gamma emissions from positron-gamma emitters to enable truly simultaneous dual-isotope PET imaging without . By using this new reconstruction method, existing clinical and preclinical PET scanners capable of recording events beyond standard coincidences can now be used for dual PET tracer studies. Isotopes that enable multiplexing include 44Sc, 52Mn, 72As, 86Y, and 124I.
Dr. Pratt demonstrated examples of dual small molecule imaging with 18FDG and 124I-trametininb, nanoparticle tracking in lung as well as melanoma models, as well as CAR-T targeting for PSMA+ tumors. Additionally, new phantoms for mPET and reconstruction improvements to the mPET method using deep learning to reduce the noise of the images and improve the accuracy of the isotope separation were demonstrated.
About the Speaker (s)
Dr. Edwin C. Pratt
Research Scholar at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Dr. Edwin C. Pratt is a research fellow building precision molecular imaging methods with experience from both academia and industry. He currently is working in the lab of Jason Lewis at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Pratt’s dissertation was on new methods for multiplex imaging, giving researchers and physicians increased ability to define the tumor environment without requiring a biopsy. His PhD training has focused on the use of nanoparticles as adjuvants for imaging and chaperones for improved drug delivery. His work has elucidated how nanoparticles can be used with most radionuclides for enhanced optical imaging, as well as potential phototherapy mediators. Additionally, his work on the anti-leukemic effect with ferumoxytol, an iron oxide nanoparticle approved by the FDA, has led him to explore senescence which is a research focus in need of precision imaging tools. Dr. Edwin C. Pratt is passionate about building new antibody-based molecular imaging agents to quantify senescence non-invasively and leverage the synergistic effects of inducing senescence in combination with targeted alpha therapy.
Special thanks to Dr. Edwin Chuck Pratt, Dr. Joaquin L. Herraiz & every researcher that was part of this project:
Dr. Alejandro Lopez-Montes
Dr. Alessia Volpe
Dr. Michael J. Crowley
Dr. Lukas M. Carter
Dr. Vivek Mittal
Dr. Nagavarakishore Pillarsetty
Dr. Vladimir Ponomarev
Dr. Jose M. Udias
Dr. Jan Grimm
Without the collaboration of each member, this research would not have been possible.