PRN RADIOTRACER WORKSHOP, LONDON, 1 FEBRUARY 2010

Over the past few years a range of non-FDG radiotracers have been developed. Many of these have been evaluated in small research studies and could be useful as diagnostic agents and/ or to facilitate the development of cancer therapeutics. Gaining access to these experimental radiotracers was identified as a key issue at the PET early phase meeting in July 2009. Some of these tracers are already produced by a few well-established academic PET centres and/ or commercial companies in the UK. However, a number of barriers have been identified that slow down, limit or prohibit potential suppliers from making these tracers widely available throughout the UK¹.  The NCRI PET Research Network organised a workshop entitled "How to increase radiotracer availability for research in the UK" at Cancer Research UK offices in London. The aim of this workshop was to discuss and evaluate different models and ascertain whether they could increase the range of radiotracers available in the UK and their geographical availability. A report has been produced to summarise the output from the meeting.

SOCIETY FOR NUCLEAR MEDICINE (SNM) PHANTOM PROGRAMME

The SNM Clinical Trials Network has developed a phantom programme to qualify sites for multi-centre PET trials and produce an extensive database of suitably equipped and staffed PET/CT centres to participate in multi-centre drug trials. As part of this the SNM chest phantom is currently doing the rounds of PET centres in the UK. Interested groups need to complete the online Imaging Site Registry to join the database. More information about the PET programme can be found here.

STATEMENT ON THE USE OF MOBILE PET/CT SCANNERS IN MULTI-CENTRE TRIALS

This statement has been prepared by the NRCI PET Research Network in consultation with the Steering Committee and the PET Scanning Methodology Panel.
Over recent years mobile PET/CT scanners have become an integral part of the clinical PET network in the UK and there is scope for further utilising this resource for PET research. This statement clarifies the NCRI PET Research Network position on the use of mobile scanners in multi-centre trials involving PET. The statement is based on the experience of previous multi-centre trials completed by the NCRI PET Clinical Trials Network (formerly the St Thomas’ Clinical Trials Network), the advice of the NCRI PET Scanning Methodology Panel and with reference to the latest standards and recommendations developed by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN), the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the National Cancer Institute, the Netherlands Society or Nuclear Medicine (NVNG) and the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM). The statement will be reviewed on a regular basis and as additional data becomes available.