Preliminary evidence of imaging of chemokine receptor-4-targeted PET/CT with [(68)Ga]pentixafor in non-Hodgkin lymphoma: comparison to [(18)F]FDG

BACKGROUND: In order to study the CXCR4 expression with [(68)Ga]pentixafor PET in different types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, we performed a retrospective study to describe the [(68)Ga]pentixafor PET/CT imaging in a spectrum of lymphomas and to compare it with [(18)F]FDG PET/CT. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin lymphoma were recruited retrospectively. [(68)Ga]pentixafor PET showed increased radioactivity in lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (n = 8), marginal zone lymphoma (n = 4), diffuse large B cell lymphoma (n = 3), follicular lymphoma (n = 2), mantle cell lymphoma (n = 1), unclassified indolent B cell lymphoma (n = 3), and enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma (n = 3). However, peripheral T cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (n = 1), and NK/T cell lymphoma (n = 2) were not avid for [(68)Ga]pentixafor. In comparison to [(18)F]FDG PET, [(68)Ga]pentixafor PET demonstrated more extensive disease and higher radioactivity in lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma. CONCLUSION: CXCR4 expression varies in different types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Overexpression of CXCR4 was detected with [(68)Ga]pentixafor PET/CT in lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, unclassified indolent B cell lymphoma, and enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma. The uptake of [(68)Ga]pentixafor was higher than [(18)F]FDG in lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma.