18F-BPA as a surrogate tracer for BPA in BNCT: comparative analysis of transport mechanisms and biodistribution.

ABSTRACT: 4-Borono-L-phenylalanine (BPA) is a key 10B carrier used in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), while its PET tracer analogue, 4-borono-2-18F-fluoro-L-phenylalanine (18F-BPA), enables non-invasive visualization of tumour boron uptake. Since BNCT efficacy depends on precise tumour boron accumulation, we evaluated whether 18F-BPA mirrors BPA's transport and biodistribution. In vitro, BPA exhibited a highly consistent uptake profile with its non-radioactive fluorinated analogue, 2-19F-4-borono-L-phenylalanine (19F-BPA), across nine cancer cell lines (r = 0.9455, P < 0.001) and tri-iodothyronine (T3)-mediated LAT-1 inhibition markedly reduced the uptake of both BPA and 19F-BPA. In vivo, BPA and 18F-BPA showed predominant accumulation in the kidneys and pancreas in Sprague-Dawley rats, with s

SUBMITTER: Li L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12856045 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature