OBJECTIVETo establish a labeling method for a specific lung cancer-targeting small molecule peptide cNGQGEQc with ¹³¹I and observe the radioactivity distribution of the labeled peptide in rabbits using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

METHODSChloramine-T method was used for ¹³¹I labeling of the tyrosine amino group on cNGQGEQc, and the labeling efficiency and radiochemical purity of ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc were determined with paper chromatography. The stability of ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc in saline and human serum was assessed after incubation in water bath at 37 degrees celsius; for 24 h. The octanol-water partition coefficient lg P (the radioactivity counting ratio of ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc dissolved in 100 µl octanol or in 100 µl saline) was calculated. SPECT was performed in 3 male New Zealand white rabbits after intravenous injection of ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc to observe the dynamic distribution of the peptide with the time-radioactivity curve (T-A curve) of the region of interest (ROI).

RESULTSWith a labeling efficiency of 90%, ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc showed a radiochemical purity of was 95% after purification with HPLC. The radiochemical purity of ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc was (93.12 ± 1.18)% and (88.34 ± 5.43)% after intubation in saline and human serum for 24 h, respectively. The octanol-water partition coefficient lg P of ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc was -1.75, suggesting its hydrosolubility. In rabbits with intravenous injection of ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc, SPECT visualized the kidneys at 1 min after the injection; the imaging of the heart and liver became attenuated at 5 min when the bladder was visualized with an increasing radioactivity. The radioactivity of the soft tissues began to fade at 30 min. No gallbladder visualization was detected, and the radioactivity of the abdomen remained low. No obvious radioactivity concentration was observed in the thyroid and stomach. The T-A curves of the ROI of all the tissues and organs descended over time.

CONCLUSIONRadiolabeling of cNGQGEQc with ¹³¹I is simple and highly efficient. ¹³¹I-cNGQGEQc has good stability in vitro and good distribution characteristics for in vivo imaging, and is cleared mainly by renal excretion due to its hydrosolubility. These results provide experimental basis for further studies of diagnosis and therapy of lung cancer with targeting polypeptide.