Synthesis and in Vitro and in Vivo Evaluation of a New 68Ga-Semicarbazone Complex: Potential PET Radiopharmaceutical for Tumor Imaging

Abstract

In an attempt to develop new tumor imaging radiotracers with favorable biochemical properties, we have synthesized new 68Ga-2-acetylpyridine semicarbazone (68Ga-[APSC] as a potential positron emission tomography (PET) tumor imaging agent using a straightforward and a one-step simple reaction. Radiochemical yield and purity were quantitative without HPLC purification. Biodistribution studies in nude mice model bearing human MDA-MB-231 cell line xenografts displayed significant tumor uptake of 68Ga-[APSC]radiotracer after 2 h postinjection (p.i.). The initial results demonstrate that 68Ga-[APSC]radiotracer may be useful probe for detecting and staging of hypoxic tumor using PET imaging modality.