Impact of [(64)Cu][Cu(ATSM)] PET/CT in the evaluation of hypoxia in a patient with Glioblastoma: a case report

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma multiform (GBM), a malignant brain tumour, has a very often poor prognosis. The therapeutic approach is represented by surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Hypoxia is a factor that causes a reduction of both radiotherapy and chemotherapy effectiveness in GBM and other cancers. Through the use of [(64)Cu][Cu(ATSM)], a hypoxia-targeting positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer, is possible to identify the presence of hypoxic areas within a lesion and therefore modulate the therapeutic approach according to the findings. CASE PRESENTATION: In this case report, we observed an increase of radiotracer uptake from early acquisition to late acquisition in hypoxia sites and high correlation between [(64)Cu][Cu(ATSM) PET/CT results and expression of the hypoxia marker HIF-1α. CONCLUSIONS: [(64)Cu][Cu(ATSM) PET/CT represents a valid opportunity to reveal in vivo hypoxic areas in GBM lesion which can guide clinicians on selecting GMB patient’s therapeutic scheme.