In Vivo Reactive Oxygen Species Detection With a Novel Positron Emission Tomography Tracer, 18F-DHMT, Allows for Early Detection of Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rodents.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. The authors investigated the efficacy of 18F-DHMT, a marker of ROS, for early detection of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and 4, 6, and 8 weeks post-doxorubicin initiation, whereas in vivo superoxide production was measured at 4 and 6 weeks with 18F-DHMT positron emission tomography. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was not significantly decreased until 6 weeks post-doxorubicin treatment, whereas myocardial superoxide production was significantly elevated at 4 weeks. 18F-DHMT imaging detected an elevation in cardiac superoxide production before a fall in LVEF in rodents and may allow for early cardiotoxicity detection in cancer patients.