Synthesis and evaluation of Tc-99m DTPA–glutathione as a non-invasive tumor imaging agent in a mouse colon cancer model

Purpose Glutathione (GSH) plays a critical role in detoxification reactions by reducing the levels of reactive oxygen species in cancer cells. This study aimed to develop technetium (Tc)-99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–GSH as a tumor imaging agent, and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Tc-99m DTPA–GSH in terms of its ability to differentiate tumors from inflammatory lesions. Methods DTPA–GSH was synthesized by reaction of GSH with DTPA anhydride under anhydrous conditions in a nitrogen atmosphere. DTPA–GSH was then reacted with Tc-99m sodium pertechnetate in a tin (II) chloride (SnCl 2 ) solution. Gamma camera imaging was performed after intravenous injection of Tc-99m DTPA–GSH into a mouse CT-26 colon cancer model, or a mouse model of inflammation induced by the intramuscular injection of Freund’s complete adjuvant. Results DTPA–GSH was successfully prepared via a straightforward synthetic procedure and radiolabeled with Tc-99m at a high labeling efficiency (>95 %). Tc-99m DTPA–GSH was strongly internalized by tumors in colon cancer model mice, with the tumor-to-normal muscle ratio of the complex reaching 4.3 ± 0.9 at 4 h. By contrast, Tc-99m DTPA–GSH showed relatively weak uptake in inflammatory lesions (target-to-non-target ratio = 2.0 ± 0.3 at 4 h). A competition study showed that the uptake of Tc-99m DTPA–GSH into tumors was blocked by co-injection with high concentrations of free GSH. Conclusions The results of this work indicate that Tc-99m DTPA–GSH is a good candidate for development as a non-invasive tumor imaging agent. Furthermore, Tc-99m DTPA–GSH effectively distinguished between cancerous tissue and inflammatory lesions.