Scintigraphic imaging of sarcomatous tumors with [(111)In-DTPA-phe-1]-octreotide

The objective of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of (111)In-DTPA-octreotide (OC) for in vivo scintigraphic imaging of these relatively uncommon tumors. Thirteen patients (9 males, 4 females, mean age 59 years) with known sarcomatous lesions were studied. All patients had known lesions as demonstrated by previous investigation with other modalities, e.g. CAT, MRI. Following intravenous injection of 10 microg of OC labeled with 2.8-4.2 mCi (111)In, planar imaging was done at 6 +/- 1 and 22 +/- 2 h, respectively. Histologic verification was obtained in all cases, either from fine needle aspiration or from surgically removed tissue. Positive imaging was observed in 12/13 cases (92.3%). One scan was false-negative (7.7%). Occult lesions were demonstrated in two patients. The histologic typing and the scintigraphy results were: fibrosarcoma (1+/1), embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma (1+/1), leiomyosarcomas (3+/3), liposarcomas (2+/2), uterine sarcomas (2+/2), HIV (-) Kaposi sarcoma (1+/1), osteosarcoma (1+/1), chondrosarcoma (1-/1) and neurogenous sarcoma (1+/1). OC appears to have properties that lead to a new indication for its use. Other possible applications relate to the therapeutic use of octreotide either unlabeled or labeled with a beta-emitting radionuclide, as well as its use in radioimmunoguided surgery. Regarding the latter, our preliminary results are encouraging.