3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine

3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine (FLT) is a radiolabeled thymidine analog used as a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer to visualize and quantify cellular proliferation in vivo. Unlike 18F-FDG, which measures glucose metabolism, FLT is a specific marker for DNA synthesis. It enters cells via nucleoside transporters and is phosphorylated by the enzyme thymidine kinase 1 (TK1), which is highly expressed during the S-phase of the cell cycle. Once phosphorylated, FLT is trapped within the cell, allowing for PET imaging of high-proliferation areas such as malignant tumors. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has evaluated FLT-PET/CT in pilot studies for patients with esophageal cancer to improve initial staging, define radiotherapy targets, and assess early response to chemoradiation therapy.

Other names

fluorothymidine F-183'-deoxy-3'-fluorothymidine F-183'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidinef-18 fltf18 fltf 18 flt