Imaging of Atherosclerosis with [64Cu]Cu-DOTA-TATE: a Translational Head-to-Head Comparison Study with 2-[18F]FDG, and Na[18F]F in Rabbits

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the larger arteries that may lead to cardiovascular events. Identification of patients at highest risk of cardiovascular events is challenging, but molecular imaging using positron emission tomography (PET) may prove useful. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare head-to-head three different PET tracers. Furthermore, tracer uptake is compared to gene expression alterations of the arterial vessel wall. Methods Male New Zealand White rabbits (control group; n=10, atherosclerotic group; n=11) were used for the study. Vessel wall uptake was assessed with the three different PET tracers: 2-[ 18 F]FDG (inflammation), Na[ 18 F]F (microcalcification), and [ 64 Cu]Cu-DOTA-TATE (macrophages), using PET/Computed Tomography (CT). Tracer uptake was measured as standardized uptake value (SUV), and arteries from both groups were analyzed ex vivo by autoradiography, qPCR, histology, and immunohistochemistry. Results In rabbits, the atherosclerotic group showed significantly higher uptake of all three tracers compared to the control group 2-[ 18 F]FDG: SUV mean 1.50 ± 0.11 vs. 1.23 ± 0.09, p = 0.025; Na[ 18 F]F: SUV mean 1.54 ± 0.06 vs. 1.18 ± 0.10, p = 0.006; and [ 64 Cu]Cu-DOTA-TATE: SUV mean 2.30 ± 0.27 vs. 1.65 ± 0.16; p = 0.047. Of the 102 genes analyzed, 52 were differentially expressed in the atherosclerotic group compared to the control group and several genes correlated with tracer uptake. Conclusion In conclusion, we demonstrated the diagnostic value of [ 64 Cu]Cu-DOTA-TATE and Na[ 18 F]F for identifying atherosclerosis in rabbits. The two PET tracers provided information that could not be obtained with 2-[ 18 F]FDG.