Iodine-123-vascular endothelial growth factor-165 (123I-VEGF165). Biodistribution, safety and radiation dosimetry in patients with pancreatic carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Imaging with radiolabelled vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been developed for the localisation and diagnosis of a variety of human solid tumors including gastrointestinal tumors.


METHODS
In this study we investigated the biodistribution, safety and absorbed dose of iodine-123 radiolabelled VEGF(165) ((123)I-VEGF(165)) in 9 patients with pancreatic carcinoma. Following intravenous administration of (123)I-VEGF(165) (189+/-17 MBq; <130 pmole (<5 microg) VEGF(165) per patient), sequential images were recorded during the initial 30 min PI. Serial whole-body images were acquired in anterior and posterior views at various time points. All patients underwent single-photon emission tomography (SPET) imaging. Dosimetry calculations were performed on the basis of gamma camera data. Estimates of radiation absorbed dose were calculated using the MIRDOSE 3 program.


RESULTS
The highest absorbed organ doses were found to be thyroid (0.058+/-0.004 mGy/MBq), spleen (0.046+/- 0.017 mGy/MBq), urinary bladder (0.04+/-0.02 mGy/MBq), lungs (0.034+/-0.009 mGy/MBq) and kidneys (0.033+/-0.005 mGy/MBq). The effective dose was estimated to be 0.017+/-0.002 mSv/MBq. A majority of primary pancreatic tumors and their metastases were visualized by (123)I-VEGF(165) scan.


CONCLUSIONS
In vitro binding results confirmed specific binding of (123)I-VEGF(165) to pancreatic tumor cells and tissues. (123)I-VEGF(165) shows favorable dosimetry and is a safe radiopharmaceutical that may be of potential value for the imaging of VEGF receptor status in vivo.
Li
S
S
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. shuren.li@meduniwien.ac.at
Peck-Radosavljevic
M
M
Kienast
O
O
Preitfellner
J
J
Havlik
E
E
Schima
W
W
Traub-Weidinger
T
T
Graf
S
S
Beheshti
M
M
Schmid
M
M
Angelberger
P
P
Dudczak
R
R
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001822:Body Burden; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor