This is an open-label, single arm study to explore whether 18F-ALF-NOTA-PRGD2 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-RGD PET/CT) scan can predict the efficacy and adverse events of apatinib in patients with malignancies.
Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is the process of generating neovascularization from preexisting vessels. It can promote tumor growth and metastasis by providing nutrients and oxygen. Integrin αvβ3 has been shown to play an important role in angiogenesis and up-regulated obviously in various types of tumor cells and activated endothelial cells. Since the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) tripeptide sequence can bind to integrin αvβ3 with high affinity and specificity, RGD PET/CT may be helpful to evaluate the biological and metabolic activity status during angiogenesis. However, 18F-ALF-NOTA-PRGD2 PET/CT as response biomarker for antiangiogenic therapy has not been fully proved and is still without universal understanding according to current publications. Apatinib (YN968D1) is the first orally antiangiogenic drug targeting VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase.In the current study, investigators propose to evaluate the feasibility of 18F-RGD PET/CT in monitoring efficacy and adverse events of apatinib in malignancies. Patients confirmed malignancies histopathologically will be prospectively enrolled in the study. All patients provided written informed consent prior to enrollment. Patients will receive apatinib therapy, and undergo 18F-RGD PET/CT scans berore and after first cycle of therapy.
