Abstract:Objective:To investigate the possibility of quantitive analysis of 99mTc-HYNIC-PEG4-E[PEG4-c(RGDfk)]2 (99mTc-3P4-RGD2) uptake and tumor integrin αvβ3 expression in glioma bearing nude mice with microSPECT/CT imaging. Methods:microSPECT/CT imaging of 99mTc samples with different volume and radioactivity was carried out to assess the influence on radiocounting based upon volume and activity. 99mTc-3P4-RGD2 MicroSPECT/CT imaging was also carried out to glioma bearing nude mice. Tumor volume was determined in vivo by caliper,microCT,microSPECT and microSPECT/CT. The consistency between determined volume and actual volume was analyzed by Bland-Altman plots. Tumor uptake of 99mTc-3P4-RGD2 was quantified to estimate glioma expression level of integrin αvβ3 and confirmed by immunohistochemistry examination. Results:Linear relationship with R2 being 0.999 7 was found between the radioactivity counts from the SPECT/CT fusion images and those from γ-counter. Bias of microSPECT/CT measurements (%) compared with the reference ones was (-2.48 ± 8.17),less than that of microCT (15.04 ± 79.53,t = 5.60,P = 0.005),microSPECT (17.04 ± 36.27,t = 7.17,P = 0.002),respectively. MicroSPECT/CT can reflect vial and necrotic tumor volume and tumor uptake of 99mTc-3P-RGD2 was positively correlated with integrin αvβ3 expression with R2 being 0.95. Conclusion:MicroSPECT/CT imaging,which is more accurate in evaluating via tumor volume and integrin αvβ3 expression level,is of potential value for patients screening for integrin αvβ3 receptor targeted therapy and dose individualization.