Comparison of viable and nonviable tumor uptake of Sc-46, Mn-54, Zn-65, In-111 and Au-195 with Ga-67 citrate in a hepatoma model.

The tissue distribution of Sc-46, Mn-54, Zn-65, In-111 and Au-195 were studied in a rat hepatoma model at various time intervals over a 96 h period. The tumor localizing properties of these isotopes were evaluated by examining their incorporation and clearance from viable and nonviable tumor tissue and determining the critical tissue ratios formed with blood and muscle. In general, the results showed greater uptake in viable than nonviable tumor tissue at early time periods (4-24 h). By 96 h, however, the activity remaining in the nonviable tumor tissue exceeded the quantity in viable tumor tissue. This trend was previously noted for Ga-67. When compared with Ga-67, only Mn-54 among the isotopes studied showed remarkably higher viable tumor/blood ratios (4-24 h, 45:1-83:1 respectively). Manganese-54 also showed highly significant accumulation in cardiac muscle with a heart/blood ratio at 4 h superior to comparable values previously reported for Cs-137 and Tl-201. It is suggested that tumor and heart imaging may be feasible utilizing radioactive manganese (Mn-51 or Mn-52) with the new positron imaging systems.