Patent attributes
The present invention provides agents and methods for dual modality virtual colonoscopy that gives both anatomical and functional information using hybrid CT/PET scanning. In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides radiolabeled tumor-specific agents and methods for distinguishing benign polyps from malignant tumors. In further embodiments, the present invention provides compositions and methods useful for distinguishing morphological and functional subregions of a selected region of tissue based on relative levels of phospholipid metabolism. Preferred radiolabeled tumor-specific agents are phospholipid ether analogs labeled with a halogen radioisotope. In certain preferred embodiments, the compositions including radiolabeled phospholipid ether analogs have therapeutic actions in addition to functionally identifying malignant tissue.
