Definition

A radioconjugate composed of the non-natural amino acid (R)-3-fluoro-2-methyl-2-(methylamino)propanoic acid (MeFAMP) radiolabeled with the positron-emitting isotope fluorine F 18, with potential cancer cell imaging activity during positron emission tomography (PET). Due to their altered metabolic states, tumor cells have a higher rate of protein synthesis than normal, healthy cells and, upon administration, fluorine F 18-labeled MeFAMP is selectively taken up by rapidly proliferating tumor cells through the membrane-associated amino acid transport system (AAT). It is neither incorporated into proteins nor readily degraded, resulting in the accumulation of this imaging agent in tumor cells. Upon PET, tumor cells can then be visualized.