[^18F] Fluorocholine (F-Choline) is a radiopharmaceutical used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging for various oncological applications, particularly in prostate cancer. It serves as a tracer for choline metabolism, which is elevated in proliferating cancer cells due to their increased membrane synthesis.
F-Choline is an analog of choline, a precursor molecule for phospholipid synthesis and cell membrane formation. Cancer cells have higher demands for choline to support their rapid proliferation, resulting in increased uptake of choline analogs like F-Choline. Once administered, F-Choline is transported into cells via choline transporters and incorporated into phospholipids. The fluorine-18 radionuclide emits positrons that can be detected by PET scanners, allowing for the visualization and quantification of choline metabolism in tumors.
F-Choline PET imaging has several clinical applications in oncology:
F-Choline PET imaging offers several advantages over conventional imaging modalities: