Evaluation of Diagnostic Value of [67Ga]Ga-Phytate in Detection of Axillary Lymph Nodes in Breast Cancer Patients Publisher



Farzanehfar S¹ ; Abbasi M¹ ; Miri SR² ; Salehi Y¹ ; Shahsavari F¹ ; Sheikhzadeh P¹ ; Vahidfar N¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Published:2025

Abstract

99mTc has been accepted as an ideal radionuclide for lymphoscintigraphy. Nevertheless, the need for another radionuclide with different half-life and photo-peak is required, particularly in research settings to differentiate the root of lymphatic drainage for 2 different injection sites as well as scenarios when longer half-life would be a privilege. In his study diagnostic value of a new radiotracer ([67Ga]Ga-phytate) for lymphoscintigraphy to determine sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in patients with breast cancer will be discussed. This pilot study recruited 10 female patients with breast cancer aged 49.7 years who were referred for pre-surgical lymphoscintigraphy. The patients underwent two injections of [67Ga]Ga-phytate and single photon emission computed tomography imaging procedure. This was followed by injection of blue dye. During the surgery both gamma probe and colorimetry were used for evaluation and dissection of involved sentinel lymph nodes. The final results were investigated by an expert pathologist. Diagnosis of sentinel lymph nodes was accomplished in 100% and 90% of patients with [67Ga] Ga-phytate and blue dye, respectively. Totally 19 sentinel lymph nodes were detected in 10 patients (1.9 per patient) with [67Ga]Ga-phytate. Out of all, in 50% of patients the detected sentinel lymph nodes had tumor involvement which 40% was macro-metastasis. Besides, among all the detected sentinel lymph nodes, 35 of them were diagnosed and dissected of which only one was found metastatic. Based on our findings [67Ga]Ga-phytate has excellent performance for detection of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer patients and this tracer could be used in certain circumstances particularly when longer time intervals is required between the lymphoscintigraphy and surgery procedure as an efficient alternative for [99mTc]Tc-phytate. Furthermore, this tracer could be used in research settings with different lymphatic drainage basins. © Akademiai Kiado Zrt 2025.