Sample PET Tracers Used in Oncology
| Target pathophysiology | Tracer | Working principle |
| Metabolism (glycolysis) | 18F-FDG | Uptake and metabolism: tumor cells have higher rate of glucose, to which 18F-FDG is analog. |
| Cell proliferation | 3′-deoxy-3′-18F-fluorothmidine (18F-FLT) | Malignant transformation increases cell proliferation, which upregulates thymidine. |
| Gene expression | 9-(4-fluoro-18F-3-hydroxymethylbutyl) guanine (18F-FHBG) | Radiolabeled probe is phosphorylated by selected gene product and is trapped within cell. Thus, magnitude of probe accumulation in cell reflects level of gene expression. |
| Tumor angiogenesis | 89Zr-bevacizumab | Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays pivotal roles in regulating tumor angiogenesis. 89Zr-bevacizumab is anti-VEGF antibody and binds to VEGF. |
| Hypoxia | 18F-fluoromisonidazole (18F-FMISO) | Rapid tumor growth leads to underdeveloped new vascularization, which creates hypoxia. 18F-FMISO takes advantage of increased tracer retention in hypoxic tissues with partial pressure of oxygen < 10 mm Hg. |
| Apoptosis | 18F-fluorobenzyl triphenylphosphonium cation (18F-FBnTP) | Apoptosis involves permanent collapse of mitochondrial membrane electrochemical potential. 18F-FBnTP is voltage-sensitive probe. |