Ce-141-labeled DOTMP: A theranostic option in management of pain due to skeletal metastases.

Owing to its favorable radioactive decay characteristics [T1/2 = 32.51 d, Eβ (max) = 434.6 keV (70.5%) and 580.0 keV (29.5%), Eγ = 145.4 keV (48.5%)], 141 Ce could be envisaged as a theranostic radionuclide for use in nuclear medicine. The present article reports synthesis and evaluation of 141 Ce-complex of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetramethylenephosphonic acid (DOTMP) as a potent theranostic agent targeting metastatic skeletal lesions. Ce-141 was produced with 314 ± 29 MBq/mg (n = 6) specific activity and >99.9% radionuclidic purity (n =6). Around 185 MBq dose of [141 Ce]Ce-DOTMP was synthesized with 98.6 ± 0.5 % (n = 4) radiochemical yield under optimized conditions of reaction and the preparation showed adequately high in vitro stability. Biodistribution studies in normal Wistar rats demonstrated significant skeletal localization and retention of injected activity (2.73 ± 0.28 % and 2.63 ± 0.22 % of injected activity per gram in femur at 3 h and 14 d post-injection, respectively) with rapid clearance from non-target organs. The results of biodistribution studies were corroborated by serial scintigraphic imaging studies. These results demonstrate the potential utility of 141 Ce-DOTMP as a theranostic molecule for personalized patient care of cancer patients suffering from painful metastatic skeletal lesions.