Advancement and Future Perspective of FAPI PET/CT In Gynecological Malignancies

Semin Nucl Med. 2022 Sep;52(5):628-634. doi: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2022.04.002. Epub 2022 Jul 13.

Abstract

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is ubiquitously present in healthy tissue, and additionally upregulated by cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) leading to high levels of FAP. Thus, neoplastic tissue, which is containing CAFs, characterized by a high presence of FAP. Moreover, in more than 90% of all epithelial tumors this phenomenon seems to occur, including many gynecological tumors, providing the foundation for a successful application of FAP-ligands. However, FAP upregulation, can also be initiated by benign conditions such as inflammation, hormonal-influence, and wound healing. Gynecological cancers seem to represent a field of interest for the utilization of FAPI-PET/CT to potentially improve staging, restaging and therapeutic management. First highly promising investigations demand further research in order to validate these preliminary findings.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Gelatinases / metabolism
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female* / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography*
  • Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Gelatinases