Table 1 Targets on the tumor cell and targeted imaging agents in HNSCC

EGFR

¹¹¹In-Cetuximab

mAb

Optimally dosed ¹¹¹In-Cetuximab accumulate effectively in HNSCC xenografts, suggesting the imaging uptake can reflect the actual EGFR expression of the tumor

SPECT

[16]

¹¹¹In-Cetuximab-F(ab')₂

Fab fragment

Distinguishes HNSCC xenografts with differential EGFR expression, and monitors therapy response of radiotherapy and/or cetuximab treatment

SPECT

[17,18,19]

⁶⁴Cu-Cetuximab-F(ab')₂

Fab fragment

⁶⁴Cu-Cetuximab-F(ab')₂ uptake correlates with EGFR expression in HNSCC xenografts

PET/CT

[20]

⁸⁹Zr-Cetuximab

mAb

Suggests a safe imaging dosing of 60 MBq and a minimum scan interval of 6 days

PET/CT

[21]

⁸⁹Zr-Cetuximab

mAb

Provides additional information about EGFR drug accessibility

PET/CT

[22]

⁸⁹Zr-DFO-Cetuximab

mAb

Allows to monitor drug resistance in HNSCC patients during cetuximab treatment

PET/CT

[23]

¹⁸F-FBEM-EGF

peptide

Bocking liver uptake of targeting agents using optimized unlabeled EGF ligands increase the tumor-to-liver ratio

PET/CT

[24]

⁸⁹Zr/¹⁸F-Z_EGFR:03115

Affibody

Assessment of different levels of EGFR in vivo and changes in EGFR expression in response to cetuximab

PET/CT

[25]

⁶⁴Cu-DOTA-Panitumumab

mAb

EGFR expression in HNSCC xenograft does not correlate with the uptake of ⁶⁴Cu-DOTA-Panitumumab

PET/CT

[26]

⁶⁴Cu-/¹⁷⁷Lu-PCTA-Cetuximab

mAb

Has potential for target selection using immuno-PET imaging and RIT-targeted therapy in cetuximab-resistant HNSCC tumors expressing EGFR

PET/CT

[27]

⁶⁴Cu/¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTA-Panitumumab F(ab')₂

Fab fragment

Suggests the feasibility of predicting the radiation equivalent doses to HNSCC and normal organs

PET/CT

[28]

CD44v6

⁸⁹Zr-cmAb U36

mAb

Immuno-PET using ⁸⁹Zr-cmAb U36 performs at least as well as CT/MRI for detection of lymph node metastases

PET/CT

[32]

^99mTc/¹⁸⁶Re-cmAb U36

mAb

The pharmacokinetics of ¹⁸⁶Re-cMAb U36 can be predicted by ^99mTc-cMAb U36

SPECT

[33]

^99mTc-BIWA 1

mAb

BIWA 1 shows high selective tumor uptake, but it is immunogenic and exhibits heterogeneous aggregation

SPECT

[35]

^99mTc-BIWA 4

mAb

Safely used in HNSCC patients, with absence of detectable human anti-human antibody responses

SPECT

[36]

¹¹¹In-DTPA-BIWA-IRDye800CW

mAb

Dual-modality imaging improves detection of primary, secondary and metastatic HNSCC

SPECT/CT&FI

[37]

¹¹¹In/¹²⁵I-AbD15179

Fab fragment

¹¹¹In/¹²⁵I-AbD15179 both effectively targets CD44v6-expressing HNSCC xenograft

SPECT

[39]

¹²⁴I-AbD19384

Fab fragment

¹²⁴I-AbD19384 has high affinity and target specificity with potential for imaging of CD44v6 antigen expression in vivo

PET/CT

[40]

SSTRs

¹¹¹In-octreotide

peptide

Case report of ¹¹¹In-octreotide detected NPC which was misdiagnosed as skull base meningioma

SPECT/CT

[48]

¹¹¹In-pentetreotide

peptide

Case report of ¹¹¹In-pentetreotide for the diagnosis of HNSCC with cervical metastasis

SPECT/CT

[49]

⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE

peptide

SSTR2 expression is a diagnostic and prognostic marker for NPC, which is upregulated by EBV infection

PET/CT

[51]

⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE

peptide

Intense SSTR2 expression is observed in most non-keratinizing NPC, which correlates with ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE uptake

PET/CT

[52]

⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE

peptide

SSTR ligands might be superior to ¹⁸F-FDG for EBV-associated NPC PET imaging, particularly at the skull base

PET/CT

[53]

⁶⁸Ga-DOTATOC

peptide

⁶⁸Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT intensity cannot be predicted by IHC, and targeting SSTR in HNSCC does not guarantee a response to PRRT treatment

PET/CT

[54]

⁶⁸ Ga-DOTATOC

peptide

Demonstrates tracer uptake in EBV-positive NPC comparable to that in neuroendocrine tumors

PET/CT

[55]

⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC

peptide

Case report in assessing intracranial involvement and differentiating reactive lymph nodes for NPC

PET/CT

[58]

⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC

peptide

Has potential as a newly diagnostic approach for undifferentiated NPC

PET/CT

[59]