Dynamic changes in (18)F-borono-L-phenylalanine uptake in unresectable, advanced, or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and malignant melanoma during boron neutron capture therapy patient selection

BACKGROUND: We evaluated dynamic changes in (18)F–borono-L-phenylalanine ((18)F–BPA) uptake in unresectable, advanced, or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCC) and malignant melanoma (MM) during boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) patient selection. METHODS: Dynamic changes in the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), tumor-to-normal tissue ratio (TNR), and tumor-to-blood pool ratio (TBR) for (18)F–BPA were evaluated in 20 patients with SCC and 8 patients with MM. RESULTS: SUVmax in SCC tumors decreased significantly from 30 to 120 min. There was a non-statistically significant decrease in SUVmax for SCC tumors from 30 to 60 min and from 60 to 120 min. Patients with MM had nonsignificant SUVmax changes in (18)F–BPA uptake on delayed imaging. Nonsignificant (18)F–BPA TNR and TBR changes were seen in patients with SCC and MM. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic changes in SUVmax for (18)F–BPA uptake had a washout pattern in SCC and a persistent pattern in MM. Dynamic (18)F–BPA -PET studies should be performed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of (18)F–BPA in humans and select appropriate candidates who may benefit from BNCT.