USE OF [¹²³I]-2-IODO- l-PHENYLALANINE AS A TUMOR IMAGING AGENT IN TWO DOGS WITH SYNOVIAL CELL SARCOMA

[¹²³I]-iodo- l-phenylalanine was successfully evaluated for gamma camera imaging in vivo in tumor-bearing athymic mice and in humans with brain tumors. Here, we report the use of this tracer in two dogs with synovial cell sarcoma of the tarsus. [¹²³I]-iodo- l-phenylalanine was quantitatively prepared as a kit formulation using the Cu¹⁺-assisted nucleophilic exchange. Rapid [¹²³I]-2-iodo- l-phenylalanine tumor accumulation was observed with good tumor to background contrast and rapid clearance in these two dogs. This radiopharmaceutical is a promising alternative tumor tracer to overcome the known limitations of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose and, when labelled with radioiodine-131, has the potential to be used for therapeutic purposes.