Recent Advances in Cancer Imaging with CuCl PET/CT.

is required for cancer cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis. Radioactive copper-64 chloride (CuCl) is a useful radiotracer for cancer imaging with position emission tomography (PET) based on increased cellular uptake of copper mediated by human copper transporter 1 (hCtr1) expressed on cancer cell membrane. Significant progress has been made in research of using CuCl as a radiotracer for cancer imaging with PET. Radiation dosimetry study in humans demonstrated radiation safety of CuCl. Recently, CuCl was successfully used for PET imaging of prostate cancer, bladder cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), and non-small cell lung carcinoma in humans. Based on the findings from the preclinical research studies, CuCl PET/CT also holds potential for diagnostic imaging of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), malignant melanoma, and detection of intracranial metastasis of copper-avid tumors based on low physiological background of radioactive copper uptake in the brain. Copper-64 radionuclide emits both β and β particles, suggesting therapeutic potential of CuCl for radionuclide cancer therapy of copper-avid tumors. Recent progress in production of therapeutic copper-67 radionuclide invites clinical research in use of theranostic pair of CuCl and CuCl for cancer imaging and radionuclide therapy.