drugsAgentApproved

Fludeoxyglucose F-18 (FDG)

The radioactive sugar used in almost every cancer PET scan, approved in the 1990s and made fresh each day by regional cyclotrons.

Fludeoxyglucose F-18 was the first PET radiopharmaceutical approved by the FDA (1994, initially for epilepsy foci and cardiac viability) and gained its oncology indication in 2000 for assessing abnormal glucose metabolism to assist in evaluating malignancy in patients with known or suspected cancer. It is produced under multiple abbreviated NDAs by commercial and academic cyclotron networks (PETNET, Cardinal Health, SOFIE, hospital sites) and is the tracer behind staging, response assessment (Deauville in lymphoma, PERCIST) and surveillance across most solid tumours. Its weaknesses, uptake in inflammation and poor sensitivity for indolent or low-glucose tumours, drive the development of target-specific tracers.

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Ball-and-stick model from PubChem 3D conformer. PubChem record

Fludeoxyglucose, 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG)

See it in action

18F-labelled glucose analogue taken up through GLUT transporters and trapped after phosphorylation by hexokinase, so metabolically active tumours accumulate signal.

Left: the molecule; no solved complex yet.

1. Where it connects

No solved complex yet: the molecule alone.

2. Step by step

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1.Fludeoxyglucose F-18 (FDG) slips into a pocket on its target.

Modality

PET imaging agent (glucose analogue)

Mechanism

18F-labelled glucose analogue taken up through GLUT transporters and trapped after phosphorylation by hexokinase, so metabolically active tumours accumulate signal.

Brand / code

FDG (multiple manufacturers)

Regulatory

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Approvals

Region	Year	Indication
US	1994	First FDG NDA (neurology and cardiology indications)
US	2000	Oncology: assessment of abnormal glucose metabolism to assist in evaluating malignancy

Trials

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ClinicalTrials.gov · phase 2/3

refreshed 2026-10-19

243 studies10 recruiting85 Phase 219 Phase 3

Search “Fludeoxyglucose F-18” on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Counts are from a name search and may include unrelated studies; up to 100 studies are summarised.

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Fludeoxyglucose F-18 (FDG)

intervention: Fludeoxyglucose F-18

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Notes

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What a result means: 'hot spots' show tissue burning glucose fast; in a person with cancer they usually mark tumour, but infection, healing and brown fat can light up too, so findings are interpreted with CT and biopsy.