How few cancer cells can be detected by positron emission tomography?: A frequent question addressed by an in vitro study

Barbara M Fischer; Minna W B Olsen; Carsten D Ley; Thomas L Klausen; Jann Mortensen; Liselotte Højgaard; Paul E G Kristjansen

doi:10.1007/s00259-005-0038-6

How few cancer cells can be detected by positron emission tomography? A frequent question addressed by an in vitro study

Barbara M Fischer, Minna W B Olsen, Carsten D Ley, Thomas L Klausen, Jann Mortensen, Liselotte Højgaard, Paul E G Kristjansen

65 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

PURPOSE: Positron emission tomography (PET) has gained widespread use in cancer diagnosis and treatment, but how many malignant cells are required for a tumour to be detected by PET?

METHODS: Three human cancer cell lines [glioblastoma and two subtypes of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)] in concentrations from 10(4) to 10(7) were seeded on six-well plates or plastic tubes and treated with [(18)F]fluorodeoxy-glucose (FDG) in vitro. FDG retention was measured in a PET/CT scanner and in a calibrated well counter. The clinical situation was simulated using a cylinder phantom with a background concentration of FDG.

RESULTS: The theoretical detection limit was found to be around 10(5) malignant cells. In a cylinder phantom the detection limit was increased by a factor of 10. The FDG retention by the glioblastoma cell line was significantly higher than the activity of the SCLC cell line. FDG retention measured by PET and a gamma counter was closely correlated to the number of cells and a linear relationship was found.

DISCUSSION: The detection limit of PET is in the magnitude of 10(5) to 10(6) malignant cells. The experimental set-up was robust and well suited as a platform for further investigations of factors influencing the detection limit of PET.

Original language	English
Journal	European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Volume	33
Issue number	6
Pages (from-to)	697-702
Number of pages	6
ISSN	1619-7070
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-005-0038-6
Publication status	Published - Jun 2006
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Carcinoma, Small Cell/diagnostic imaging
Cell Count/methods
Cell Line, Tumor
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/pharmacokinetics
Glioblastoma/diagnostic imaging
Humans
Lung Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging
Positron-Emission Tomography/methods
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity

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10.1007/s00259-005-0038-6

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How few cancer cells can be detected by positron emission tomography? A frequent question addressed by an in vitro study. / Fischer, Barbara M; Olsen, Minna W B; Ley, Carsten D et al.
In: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Vol. 33, No. 6, 06.2006, p. 697-702.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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abstract = "PURPOSE: Positron emission tomography (PET) has gained widespread use in cancer diagnosis and treatment, but how many malignant cells are required for a tumour to be detected by PET?METHODS: Three human cancer cell lines [glioblastoma and two subtypes of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)] in concentrations from 10(4) to 10(7) were seeded on six-well plates or plastic tubes and treated with [(18)F]fluorodeoxy-glucose (FDG) in vitro. FDG retention was measured in a PET/CT scanner and in a calibrated well counter. The clinical situation was simulated using a cylinder phantom with a background concentration of FDG.RESULTS: The theoretical detection limit was found to be around 10(5) malignant cells. In a cylinder phantom the detection limit was increased by a factor of 10. The FDG retention by the glioblastoma cell line was significantly higher than the activity of the SCLC cell line. FDG retention measured by PET and a gamma counter was closely correlated to the number of cells and a linear relationship was found.DISCUSSION: The detection limit of PET is in the magnitude of 10(5) to 10(6) malignant cells. The experimental set-up was robust and well suited as a platform for further investigations of factors influencing the detection limit of PET.",

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doi = "10.1007/s00259-005-0038-6",

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AU - Fischer, Barbara M

AU - Olsen, Minna W B

AU - Ley, Carsten D

AU - Klausen, Thomas L

AU - Mortensen, Jann

AU - Højgaard, Liselotte

AU - Kristjansen, Paul E G

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N2 - PURPOSE: Positron emission tomography (PET) has gained widespread use in cancer diagnosis and treatment, but how many malignant cells are required for a tumour to be detected by PET?METHODS: Three human cancer cell lines [glioblastoma and two subtypes of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)] in concentrations from 10(4) to 10(7) were seeded on six-well plates or plastic tubes and treated with [(18)F]fluorodeoxy-glucose (FDG) in vitro. FDG retention was measured in a PET/CT scanner and in a calibrated well counter. The clinical situation was simulated using a cylinder phantom with a background concentration of FDG.RESULTS: The theoretical detection limit was found to be around 10(5) malignant cells. In a cylinder phantom the detection limit was increased by a factor of 10. The FDG retention by the glioblastoma cell line was significantly higher than the activity of the SCLC cell line. FDG retention measured by PET and a gamma counter was closely correlated to the number of cells and a linear relationship was found.DISCUSSION: The detection limit of PET is in the magnitude of 10(5) to 10(6) malignant cells. The experimental set-up was robust and well suited as a platform for further investigations of factors influencing the detection limit of PET.

AB - PURPOSE: Positron emission tomography (PET) has gained widespread use in cancer diagnosis and treatment, but how many malignant cells are required for a tumour to be detected by PET?METHODS: Three human cancer cell lines [glioblastoma and two subtypes of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)] in concentrations from 10(4) to 10(7) were seeded on six-well plates or plastic tubes and treated with [(18)F]fluorodeoxy-glucose (FDG) in vitro. FDG retention was measured in a PET/CT scanner and in a calibrated well counter. The clinical situation was simulated using a cylinder phantom with a background concentration of FDG.RESULTS: The theoretical detection limit was found to be around 10(5) malignant cells. In a cylinder phantom the detection limit was increased by a factor of 10. The FDG retention by the glioblastoma cell line was significantly higher than the activity of the SCLC cell line. FDG retention measured by PET and a gamma counter was closely correlated to the number of cells and a linear relationship was found.DISCUSSION: The detection limit of PET is in the magnitude of 10(5) to 10(6) malignant cells. The experimental set-up was robust and well suited as a platform for further investigations of factors influencing the detection limit of PET.

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KW - Cell Count/methods

KW - Cell Line, Tumor

KW - Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/pharmacokinetics

KW - Glioblastoma/diagnostic imaging

KW - Humans

KW - Lung Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging

KW - Positron-Emission Tomography/methods

KW - Reproducibility of Results

KW - Sensitivity and Specificity

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EP - 702

JO - European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

JF - European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

IS - 6

ER -

How few cancer cells can be detected by positron emission tomography? A frequent question addressed by an in vitro study

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