Definition

A uniformly-labeled radioconjugate composed of lactate in which all three carbons are labeled with the isotope carbon C 13 (13C), with potential imaging application. Upon administration of uniformly-labeled [13C]lactate, lactate is taken up and metabolized by tumors, via the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the 13C-containing metabolites can be imaged by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. As certain tumor cells preferentially take up and metabolize lactate for fuel, this agent may help assess the extent of lactate metabolism in tumor cells.