Definition

A radiotracer composed of DASA-23, a pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2) ligand, conjugated to the radioisotope fluorine F 18, with potential use for imaging of PKM2-expressing tumor cells upon positron emission tomography (PET). Upon administration of fluorine F 18 DASA-23, the DASA-23 moiety selectively targets and is taken up by tumor cells that express PKM2. Upon binding to PKM2 and following PET, PKM2-expressing tumor cells can be visualized and the metabolic activity of the tumor cells can be assessed through the quantitation of PKM2 expression levels. PKM2, an enzyme that plays a key role in the glycolytic reprogramming, metabolic activity and rapid proliferation of tumor cells, is selectively overexpressed in various tumor cell types. Tumor uptake of fluorine F 18 DASA-23 is positively correlated with PKM2 expression.