The design of a pentavalent 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinate complex as a tumor imaging agent.

In our search for a technetium-tumor seeking agent, the chemical characteristic of polynuclear Ga-citrate attracted our attention. On this basis, we selected the ligand dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMS) and appropriate labeling conditions in the design of 99mTc(V)-DMS. Chemical characterization was performed by thin layer chromatography, electrophoresis, Sephadex column chromatography and spectrophotometric studies at the chemical concentration (99Tc). Biodistribution in mice bearing Ehrlich ascites tumor and scintigraphic images in VX-2 tumor-bearing rabbit, indicated the great applicability of 99mTc(V)-DMS as a new tumor imaging agent. Its distinctive characteristic, different from the kidney imaging agent (99mTc-DMSA) is demonstrated and the biological implication of hydrolytic polynucleation of pentavalent technetium, through an anionic specie Tc(V)O3-(4), in the tumor cell is discussed.