PurposeThe purpose of this study was to identify suitable molecular targets for tumor-specific imaging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.ProceduresThe expression of eight potential imaging targets was assessed by the target selection criteria (TASC)—score and immunohistochemical analysis in normal pancreatic tissue (n?=?9), pancreatic (n?=?137), and periampullary (n?=?28) adenocarcinoma.ResultsIntegrin αvβ6, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) showed a significantly higher (all p?<?0.001) expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma compared to normal pancreatic tissue and were confirmed by the TASC score as promising imaging targets. Furthermore, these biomarkers were expressed in respectively 88 %, 71 %, 69 %, and 67 % of the pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients.ConclusionsThe results of this study show that integrin αvβ6, CEA, EGFR, and uPAR are suitable targets for tumor-specific imaging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. |