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The role of copper in the metabolism of human cancer cells has been largely investigated in the last 20 years and a strong relationship between copper levels and cancer progression has been demonstrated. Moreover copper is involved in tumor angiogenesis as well as in non-neoplastic conditions like neurodegenerative diseases. The main mechanism of action is related to a cellular transporter (CTR1) that plays a pivotal role in preserving the intra-cellular homeostasis, allowing at the same time the anti- tumor activity of platinum based therapies. Copper-64, emitting positrons and β- radiations, is suitable for the labeling of a large number of molecules that could be used for radionuclide imaging, being also usable in radionuclide therapy. Nevertheless few data are at present available on radiotracers labeled with radiocopper and in particular on the use of (64)Cu-Cl2 in cancer patients. In this paper we analyze the potential applications for Copper-64 as PET agent in the clinical oncological scenario.

Signs or symptoms of impaired autonomic regulation of circulation are typically present in patients affected by Parkinson's disease (PD), in agreement with the cardiac sympathetic denervation discovered by Goldstein more than 15 yrs. ago. In particular, the majority of PD patients have a diffuse left ventricular myocardial sympathetic denervation, being a normal neurological condition present only in a small number of affected subjects. Actually MIBG cardiac imaging is a universally accepted method to estimate cardiac sympathetic innervations. This review covers the role of MIBG cardiac imaging in PD as well as in other parkinsonisms, focusing the attention on technical problems and pathophysiological premises for cardiac denervation. In particular new emerging data support the role of MIBG as biomarker of PD, also before motor symptoms became clinically evident. Therefore the timing of cardiac noradrenergic denervation in PD is a key issue and we want to update the analysis of autonomic cardiovascular abnormalities studied with MIBG in PD and related disorders.