The influence of whole body 60Co-irradiation on distribution of 67Ga in tumor-bearing mice

Since the initial findings that 67Ga has a preferential affinity for soft tissue tumors, in humans numerous suggestions have been advanced for the basic mechanism involved. The effects produced by whole-body X-irradiation on the excretion and tissue distribution of 67Ga have been reported by Swartzendruber and others. Bradley and coworkers have shown that these irradiation effects were associated with an increase in serum iron. The present investigation was undertaken in order to study the relationships between the change in the serum iron concentration and 67Ga accumulation in the tumor and soft tissues in mice bearing Ehrlich's ascites tumor. The following results were obtained. (1) The serum iron concentration was significantly decreased between 3 and 6 hours after 10 Gy (1,000 rad) dose of whole-body 60Co-irradiation. Subsequently, the serum iron levels were slowly elevated. (2) The uptake of 67Ga in the tumor and soft tissues was increased if the serum iron concentration was decreased by whole-body 60Co-irradiation during the early phase. On the contrary, if the serum iron concentration was high, the uptake of 67Ga in the tumor was decreased. (3) The excretion of 67Ga from the body was delayed if the serum iron concentration was decreased by whole-body 60Co-irradiation. However, if the serum iron concentration was high, the excretion of 67Ga from the body significantly increased. (author)