18F-TRX

**18F-TRX** is an investigational radiopharmaceutical imaging agent developed for PET (positron emission tomography) scans. Its primary function is to noninvasively quantify the cytosolic labile iron pool (LIP) within tumors or other tissues. This pool of iron is critical for cancer cell metabolism and proliferation, as cancer cells typically exhibit elevated iron levels compared to normal cells. By selectively accumulating in tissues with high LIP levels, 18F-TRX enables identification of tumors most likely to respond to iron-targeted therapies. The mechanism of uptake is based on selective chemical reaction within LIP-rich cells, leading to stable retention of the radioactive signal correlating with iron concentration. The tracer has been tested in preclinical models—particularly glioma and renal cell carcinoma—and is under investigation in clinical trials for its utility in detecting and stratifying tumors for LIP-targeted treatments. Because dysregulation of iron metabolism also contributes to other diseases, such as neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and inflammatory disorders, 18F-TRX may have future applications beyond oncology[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9].

Other names

[18F]TRX