Investigations into the use of 77Br labelled 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone for scanning the prostate

The potential use of a potent androgen labelled with a gamma emitting radionuclide for scanning the prostate was investigated. 2alphabromo 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone was synthesized and subsequently labelled with 77Br. The distribution of this compound was studied in rat and human tissues. The maximum concentration of radioactivity in the rat prostate at 1-4 h following the injection was found to be between 0.5-0.8% of the injected dose per gram of the tissue. In the human however, that value was 0.002-0.003%. Considering the overall results it was concluded that this compound is not appropriate for scanning the prostate.