11C-methionine

11C-Methionine is a radiopharmaceutical imaging agent used in positron emission tomography (PET) to visualize tumors with high amino acid turnover. It consists of the essential amino acid methionine labeled with the positron-emitting isotope carbon-11. The tracer is particularly effective in imaging multiple myeloma and various brain tumors because it exploits the upregulated expression of amino acid transporters, specifically the L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), on the surface of malignant cells. Once inside the cell, the methionine is incorporated into newly synthesized proteins or immunoglobulins. In the context of research led by Yingbing Wang at Massachusetts General Hospital, 11C-methionine PET/CT has been evaluated in Phase 1 clinical trials (such as NCT02646085) for its ability to detect residual viable lesions in multiple myeloma patients, especially those who remain PET-negative using standard 18F-FDG tracers. It offers superior sensitivity for both intramedullary and extramedullary disease by targeting protein synthesis pathways rather than glucose metabolism.

Other names

C11 MethionineC-11 MethionineC 11 MethionineL-[methyl-11C]methionineCarbon-11 methionineCarbon11 methionineCarbon 11 methionineRadiolabeled methionine