ARRONAX, a high-energy and high-intensity cyclotron for nuclear medicine.
OBJECTIVE
This study was aimed at establishing a list of radionuclides of interest for nuclear medicine that can be produced in a high-intensity and high-energy cyclotron.


METHODS
We have considered both therapeutic and positron emission tomography radionuclides that can be produced using a high-energy and a high-intensity cyclotron such as ARRONAX, which will be operating in Nantes (France) by the end of 2008. Novel radionuclides or radionuclides of current limited availability have been selected according to the following criteria: emission of positrons, low-energy beta or alpha particles, stable or short half-life daughters, half-life between 3 h and 10 days or generator-produced, favourable dosimetry, production from stable isotopes with reasonable cross sections.


RESULTS
Three radionuclides appear well suited to targeted radionuclide therapy using beta ((67)Cu, (47)Sc) or alpha ((211)At) particles. Positron emitters allowing dosimetry studies prior to radionuclide therapy ((64)Cu, (124)I, (44)Sc), or that can be generator-produced ((82)Rb, (68)Ga) or providing the opportunity of a new imaging modality ((44)Sc) are considered to have a great interest at short term whereas (86)Y, (52)Fe, (55)Co, (76)Br or (89)Zr are considered to have a potential interest at middle term.


CONCLUSIONS
Several radionuclides not currently used in routine nuclear medicine or not available in sufficient amount for clinical research have been selected for future production. High-energy, high-intensity cyclotrons are necessary to produce some of the selected radionuclides and make possible future clinical developments in nuclear medicine. Associated with appropriate carriers, these radionuclides will respond to a maximum of unmet clinical needs.
Haddad
Ferid
F
SUBATECH, Université de Nantes, Ecole des Mines de Nantes, CNRS/IN2P3, La Chantrerie, 4, rue A. Kastler, BP 20722, 44307 Nantes, France. haddad@subatech.in2p3.fr
Ferrer
Ludovic
L
Guertin
Arnaud
A
Carlier
Thomas
T
Michel
Nathalie
N
Barbet
Jacques
J
Chatal
Jean-François
JF
D000512:Alpha Particles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001610:Beta Particles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017357:Cyclotrons / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005602:France; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D009683:Nuclear Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009686:Nuclear Physics / Q000295:instrumentation; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011868:Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals