Tumor uptake of 99mTc-MIBI and 201Tl by a 9L gliosarcoma brain tumor model in rats

There have been several recent case reports of the accumulation of 99mTc-MIBI [hexakismethoxyisobutylisonitriletechnetium(I), Cardiolite, Sestamibi] in tumors, but no reports of the uptake of this radiopharmaceutical in an animal model. To address this question, the biodistributions of 99mTc-MIBI and 201Tl were compared in Fisher rats bearing 9L gliosarcomas. The results showed that, although the absolute uptake of the tracers by the tumor is relatively low (< 1% ID/g), the tumor-to-normal brain ratios are greater than 6:1 because of low uptake by normal brain. The tumor-to-normal brain ratio of 99mTc-MIBI exceeds that of other currently available 99mTc radiopharmaceuticals suggesting that 99mTc-MIBI may be of particular value in the clinical evaluation of brain tumors and that further investigation of this class of compounds as tumor-avid radiopharmaceuticals is necessary.