[F]Fluoromethylcholine as a Chemotherapy Response Read-Out in Prostate Cancer Cells.

Purpose: The objective of the present study is to determine whether uptake of [F]fluoromethylcholine ([F]FCH) in comparison with 2-deoxy-2-[F]fluoro-D-glucose ([F]FDG) accurately reflects chemotherapy efficacy at the tumor cell level in prostate cancer (PC). Procedures: The effects of docetaxel and cabazitaxel on viable tumor cell number were explored in four PC cell lines. Cellular uptake of [F]FDG and [F]FCH was compared with the effects measured using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay, cell counting and colony formation assay (CFA), as proximators of viable tumor cell number. Agreement between uptake and cell numbers was assessed by Bland-Altman plots. Results: [F]FCH uptake in all PC cell lines significantly correlated to the cell numbers surviving the respective drug concentrations. Bland-Altman analysis showed that [F]FDG uptake resulted in signal overestimation and higher variability after chemotherapy. Conclusions: [F]FCH uptake correlates well with viable tumor cell numbers remaining after docetaxel and cabazitaxel exposure. Radiolabeled choline is a potential response monitoring biomarker after chemotherapy for PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]