Preliminary findings from a recent study suggest that 99mTc-maraciclatide could offer a promising non-invasive test for detecting early-stage endometriosis, a condition traditionally diagnosed through laparoscopic surgery. In the study, patients with known or suspected endometriosis were imaged with a SPECT-CT camera, followed by laparoscopy to confirm the presence and location of endometriotic lesions. Initial results indicate that 99mTc-maraciclatide effectively identifies endometriosis, especially the superficial peritoneal type, which accounts for about 80% of cases and typically requires surgery for accurate diagnosis. Notably, the tracer successfully visualized early-stage endometriosis in patients whose condition was later confirmed by laparoscopic surgery, and it highlighted activity in cases of deep endometriosis and endometriomas—common ovarian cysts associated with the disease. A case study from the research also demonstrated 99mTc-maraciclatide’s advantage over ultrasound by detecting superficial peritoneal endometriosis missed by other imaging methods.
The ongoing DETECT study, led by Professors Christian Becker and Krina Zondervan from Oxford’s Endometriosis CaRe Centre, aims to recruit 20-25 patients and is expected to conclude by year’s end. 99mTc-maraciclatide is a radiolabeled tracer that binds to the αvβ3 integrin protein, involved in angiogenesis, a process critical to the growth of endometriotic lesions. According to David Hail, CEO of Serac Healthcare, these initial findings demonstrate significant potential for maraciclatide as a diagnostic tool, with the unique ability to identify early endometriosis stages that are often invisible to standard imaging, contributing to an average diagnostic delay of nearly nine years. With its non-invasive approach, 99mTc-maraciclatide could reduce this delay, offering faster and more effective diagnostic options for women suffering from endometriosis-related pain and infertility. The Oxford team remains optimistic, emphasizing that earlier diagnosis of this prevalent form could significantly improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
