Tetrafluoroborate ION F-18

Table of contents

• What is Tetrafluoroborate ION F-18?
• How does Tetrafluoroborate ION F-18 work?
• Which conditions is it used or studied for?
• How is Tetrafluoroborate ION F-18 given?
• What do the clinical trials show?

What is Tetrafluoroborate ION F-18?

Tetrafluoroborate ION F-18 is a chemically synthesised, radioactive imaging substance. It is also known as [18F]Tetrafluoroborate and abbreviated as [18F]TFB.^[1] The substance is classified in the therapeutic area of neoplasms, meaning it is studied in the field of cancer.^[1] It is an investigational substance with no marketing authorisation in the product records; the product is supplied by Erasmus MC.^[1]

How does Tetrafluoroborate ION F-18 work?

Tetrafluoroborate ION F-18 is a radioactive tracer used in PET/CT imaging. The fluorine-18 isotope emits positrons that are detected by the PET scanner, allowing doctors to see where the substance accumulates in the body. In differentiated thyroid cancer, the tracer is taken up by thyroid tissue and thyroid cancer cells in a way similar to iodine, which is why it may help locate metastatic lymph nodes and assess how well radioiodine therapy is working.^[1]

Which conditions is it used or studied for?

• Differentiated thyroid cancer — a type of thyroid cancer that retains some features of normal thyroid cells. The trial uses the tracer to detect metastatic lymph nodes before surgery and to estimate response to radioiodine therapy in patients with persistent or recurrent disease.^[1]

How is Tetrafluoroborate ION F-18 given?

Tetrafluoroborate ION F-18 is prepared as a solution for injection and is given by intravenous injection.^[1] In the trial, the intervention is recorded as [18F]Tetrafluoroborate at a dose of 2 GBq/Kg (gigabecquerel per kilogram).^[1]

What do the clinical trials show?

One Phase 2 interventional imaging study is registered for Tetrafluoroborate ION F-18. The trial is authorised and plans to enrol 40 participants with differentiated thyroid cancer.^[1]

The study has three main aims: to determine the optimal time point for PET/CT image acquisition after injection, to determine the value of [18F]TFB PET/CT for detecting metastatic lymph nodes before surgery, and to determine its value for estimating radioiodine therapy response in patients with persistent and recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer.^[1]

The primary outcome measures include the optimal time kinetic point, the number and localisation of lymph node metastases, and prediction of response to iodine-131 (131I) therapy. Results will be compared with reference standards such as ultrasonography, pathology and post-therapy 131I scans, which are performed under regular clinical care.^[1]