Definition

A radioconjugate consisting of the somatostatin analog tyrosine-3-octreotate (Tyr3-octreotate or TATE) labeled, via the macrocyclic chelating agent 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetra-acetic acid (DOTA), with the positron emission tomography (PET) tracer copper Cu 64, which may be used to image somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-expressing neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) upon PET. Upon administration of copper Cu 64 Dotatate, the TATE moiety targets and binds to SSTRs, with a much higher affinity for type 2 SSTR, present on the cell membranes of many types of NETs. This allows for visualization of SSTR-positive tumor cells upon PET. SSTR subtypes have been shown to be present in large numbers on NETs and their metastases, while most other normal tissues express low levels of SSTR subtypes.