Definition

A radiofluorinated 2-nitroimidazole derivative with hypoxia-specific tracer activity. Fluorine F 18-fluoroazomycin arabinoside is reduced under hypoxic conditions and is often seen in various malignant tumors, forming highly reactive intermediates. In its reduced form, fluorine F 18-fluoroazomycin arabinoside covalently binds to macromolecules, thereby accumulating in hypoxic cells and allowing radioisotopic imaging of these particular cells. Compared to fluorine F 18-misonidazole, fluorine F 18-fluoroazomycin arabinoside has a lower octanol:water partition coefficient; it therefore has less tendency to accumulate in lipophilic tissues and exhibits a faster renal clearance, leading to an improved imaging ability of hypoxic tissue.