Lobular breast cancer is most commonly estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and spreads to different parts of the body compared to ductal breast cancer. Lobular breast cancer is also more difficult to detect with imaging scans. A PET scan is an imaging scan that uses a radioactive substance called a tracer that can look for and attach to cancer cells. For lobular breast cancer, researchers are investigating a tracer called FES, or [18F]fluoroestradiol, that detects estrogen receptors and allows doctors to see the cancer on the PET scan. The goal is that using FES as a tracer during PET scans will improve the detection of lobular breast cancer when it spreads.
Click the links below to learn about research on the use of the FES tracer in PET scans for lobular breast cancer.
Introduction to Imaging for Lobular Breast Cancer
- Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance: Lobular breast cancer can be imaged with several types of scans, including an FES PET scan
Introduction to FES PET Scans
- Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (video): An FES PET scan detects estrogen receptor-positive cancer cells
The Use of FES PET Scans for Metastatic Lobular Breast Cancer
- Our MBC Life (podcast): Dr. Hannah Linden discusses the limitations of FES PET for metastatic lobular breast cancer and research that is needed (discussion about metastatic lobular breast cancer is from 21:50-28:35)
MBC Clinical Trials
- Metastatic Trial Search: Trials for imaging
- Metastatic Trial Search: Trials open to people with metastatic lobular breast cancer
- Metastatic Trial Search: Trials specific for metastatic lobular breast cancer
Last Modified on November 30, 2023