Abstract
Background: The currently available radiopharmaceuticals are not specific for tumor imaging. Purpose: The present study was conducted to radiolabel doxorubicin with Technetium-99m ([99m]Tc) as a scintigraphic marker of high DNA turnover/intercalation in malignant cells. Methods: Labeling was done by direct method and the developed radiotracer was subjected to quality control tests. The blood kinetics, scintigraphy of tumor-bearing mice, and biodistribution were studied after intravenous injection of about 7.4 MBq of [99m]Tc-doxorubicin. The isotime (5 minutes) anterior images were acquired at different time intervals of 1.5, 3, and 4 hours. Results: The labeling efficiency of [99m]Tc-doxorubicin was estimated to be more than 95%. The protein-binding efficiency was greater than 88% and in vitro stability was up to 24 hours. The biodistribution data support the clearance of the radioligand by dual (renal and hepatic) pathways. A semiquantitative data analysis of the anterior images indicated that a focal concentration of the radiotracer was seen in the tumor at 1.5 hours, which persisted in 3-hour and 4-hour images, respectively. Conclusions: This scintigraphic approach, therefore, could be a powerful tool for cancer detection at early stage. The technique, however, needs further validation through animal experimentation and clinical studies.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 221-225 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 1 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- cancer
- imaging
- molecular imaging
- radionuclide
- radiopharmaceuticals
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
- Pharmacology
- Cancer Research