Somatostatin Receptors as Targets for Nuclear Medicine Imaging and Radionuclide Treatment

Abstract
Radiolabeled peptides have been an important class of compounds in radiopharmaceutical sciences and nuclear medicine for more than 20 years. Despite strong research efforts, only somatostatin-based radiopeptides have a real impact on patient care, diagnostically and therapeutically. [111In-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid0]octreotide is commercially available for imaging. Imaging was highly improved by the introduction of PET radionuclides such as 68Ga, 64Cu, and 18F. Two peptides are successfully used in targeted radionuclide therapy when bound to DOTA and labeled with 90Y and 177Lu.