View source for 18F-FLT

== 18F-FLT ==

'''18F-FLT''' ('''F'''luoro'''L'''-thymidine) is a [[radiopharmaceutical]] used in [[Positron Emission Tomography]] (PET) imaging. Pronounced as "eighteen F FLT", the etymology of the term comes from the combination of the radioactive isotope Fluorine-18 (18F) and the nucleoside analogue FLT (Fluoro-L-thymidine).

=== Usage ===

18F-FLT is primarily used in [[oncology]] to assess cellular proliferation in tumors. It is a marker of thymidine kinase-1 activity, an enzyme upregulated in rapidly dividing cells. This makes it a valuable tool in the evaluation of tumor aggressiveness, response to therapy, and disease progression.

=== Synthesis ===

The synthesis of 18F-FLT involves the nucleophilic substitution of a tosylate precursor with [[Fluorine-18]]. The reaction is followed by deprotection of the acetyl groups to yield the final product.

=== Advantages and Limitations ===

Compared to the more commonly used [[18F-FDG]], 18F-FLT has the advantage of lower uptake in inflammatory cells, which can lead to fewer false positives. However, its uptake in normal tissues is higher, which can lead to lower tumor-to-background contrast.

== See Also ==

* [[Radiopharmaceutical]]
* [[Positron Emission Tomography]]
* [[Oncology]]
* [[18F-FDG]]
* [[Fluorine-18]]

[[Category:Radiopharmaceuticals]]
[[Category:Medical Imaging]]
[[Category:Oncology]]

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