Impact of [64Cu][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 [Cu-64][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 [Cu-64][Cu(ATSM) PET/CT results and expression of the hypoxia marker HIF-1 alpha. Conclusions [Cu-64][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.