Clinical applications of Gallium-68

Gallium-68 is a positron-emitting radioisotope that is produced from a 68Ge/68Ga generator. As such it is conveniently used, decoupling radiopharmacies from the need for a cyclotron on site. Gallium-68-labeled peptides have been recognized as a new class of radiopharmaceuticals showing fast target localization and blood clearance. 68Ga-DOTATOC, 8Ga-DOTATATE, 68Ga-DOTANOC, are the most prominent radiopharmaceuticals currently in use for imaging and differentiating lesions of various somatostatin receptor subtypes, overexpressed in many neuroendocrine tumors. There has been a tremendous increase in the number of clinical studies with 68Ga over the past few years around the world, including within the United States. An estimated ∼10,000 scans are being performed yearly in Europe at about 100 centers utilizing 68Ga-labeled somatostatin analogs within clinical trials. Two academic sites within the US have also begun to undertake human studies. This review will focus on the clinical experience of selected, well-established and recently applied 68Ga-labeled imaging agents used in nuclear medicine.

► A summary of the emerging clinical uses of 68Ga-based radiopharmaceuticals is provided.
► 68Ga-PET may prove as or more clinically robust than the corresponding 18F-labeled agents.
► 68Ga-radiopeptides were studied for targeting of somatostatin receptors subtypes.
► 68Ga-DOTATOC, 68Ga-DOTATATE, 68Ga-DOTANOC, are currently in clinical trials.