How to Perform FAPI PET? An Expedited Systematic Review Providing a Recommendation for FAPI PET Imaging With Different FAPI Tracers

• Published in: Seminars in nuclear medicine 2024-05, Vol.54 (3), p.345-355
• Main Authors: Bentestuen, Morten, Nalliah, Surenth, Stolberg, Marie M K, Zacho, Helle D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Gallium Radioisotopes; Humans; Positron-Emission Tomography - methods; Quinolines; Radioactive Tracers
• ISSN: 0001-2998; 1558-4623
• DOI: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2023.11.003

This expedited systematic review aims to provide the first overview of the different Fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET scan procedures in the literature and discuss how to efficiently obtain optimal FAPI PET images based on the best available evidence. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched in April 2023. Peer-reviewed cohort studies published in English and used FAPI tracers were included. Articles were excluded if critical scan procedure information was missing, or the article was not retrievable from a university library within 30 days. Data were grouped according to the FAPI tracer applied. Meta-analysis with proper statistics was deemed not feasible based on a pilot study. A total of 946 records were identified. After screening, 159 studies were included. [ Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 was applied in 98 studies (61%), followed by [ Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 in 19 studies (12%). Most studies did not report specific patient preparation. A mean/median administered activity of 80-200 MBq was most common; however, wide ranges were seen in [ Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET studies (56-370 MBq). An injection-to-scan-time of 60 minutes was dominant for all FAPI PET studies. A possible trend toward shorter injection-to-scan times was observed for [ Ga]Ga-FAPI-46. Three studies evaluated [ Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 PET acquisition at multiple time points in more than 593 cancer lesions, all yielding equivalent tumor detection at 10 minutes vs later time points despite slightly lower tumor-to-background Ratios. Despite the wide ranges, most institutions administer an average of 80-200 MBq [ Ga]Ga-FAPI-04/46 and scan patients at 60 minutes postinjection. For [ Ga]Ga-FAPI-46, the present evidence consistently supports the feasibility of image acquisition earlier than 30 minutes. Currently, data on the optimal FAPI PET scan procedure are limited, and more studies are encouraged. The current review can serve as a temporary guideline for institutions planning FAPI PET studies.