Autoradiographic imaging of rat sarcoma in different anatomical sites using 2-[14C]deoxyglucose

As sarcomas are known to have accelerated glycolysis, we used the radiolabeled glucose analogue 2-deoxy-d-[U-14C]glucose in autoradiographic imaging studies of a methylcholanthrene-induced rat fibrosarcoma placed in an i.m. site, and in models of pulmonary and hepatic metastases. Fifty muCi of 2-deoxy-d-[U-14C]glucose were injected i.p. into groups of rats bearing tumors in these three sites; sacrifice of animals for imaging was carried out 45 min later. Excellent imaging of sarcoma tissue in all three anatomical sites was obtained, with high visual contrast compared to the normal tissue background. Using densitometry of autoradiographs, tumor/tissue ratios were 7.1 for i.m. tumors, 3.8 for pulmonary metastases, and 2.8 for hepatic metastases. Autoradiographic imaging of sarcomas may be obtained based upon avidity of neoplastic tissue for the glucose analogue 2-deoxy-d-[U-14C] glucose. Such imaging is not dependent upon anatomical site and reproducibly images rat sarcomas in muscle, lung, and liver.