Florilglutamic acid enters cells through a transport system known as xC- (cystine/glutamate antiporter) which is more abundant in cancer tissue. Florilglutamic acid (18F) is a radioactive compound for use with an imaging method known as positron emission tomography (PET). When injected into the patient, florilglutamic acid (18F) is more effectively taken up by the cancer cells in the liver from where it is expected to emit radiation that can be detected in a PET scan, thereby allowing the cancer to be diagnosed. Orphan designation (EU/3/16/1632) was granted by the European Commission to Piramal Imaging GmbH, Germany, for florilglutamic acid (18F) for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

3,3',5,5'-Tetraiodothyroacetic acid (Tetrac) is a deaminated analog of L-thyroxine (T4) that blocks the proangiogenesis actions of T4 and 3, 5, 3’-triiodo-L-thyronine as well as other growth factors at the cell surface receptor for thyroid hormone on integrin αvβ3. 3,3',5,5'-Tetraiodothyroacetic acid blocks the transcriptional activities directed by L-thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3’-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) at αvβ3, but, independently of T4 and T3, 3,3',5,5'-Tetraiodothyroacetic acid modulates transcription of cancer cell genes that are important to cell survival pathways, control of the cell cycle, angiogenesis (VEGFA, FGF), apoptosis, cell export of chemotherapeutic agents, and repair of double-strand DNA breaks. 3,3',5,5'-Tetraiodothyroacetic acid was found to perturb the angiogenesis process stimulated by VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) or FGF (Fibroblast Growth Factor) without influencing the preexisting blood vessels.