To be able to evaluate new radiopharmaceuticals and optimize diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, relevant animal models are required. The aim of this study was to evaluate the medullary thyroid carcinoma GOT2 animal model by analyzing the biodistribution of 177Lu-octreotate and 111In-minigastrin (MG0). BALB/c nude mice, subcutaneously transplanted with GOT2, were intravenously injected with either 177Lu-octreotate or 111In-MG0, with or without excess of unlabeled human minigastrin simultaneously with 111In-MG0. Animals were sacrificed 1-7 days after injection in the 177Lu-octreotate study and 1 h after injection of 111In-MG0. The activity concentrations in organs and tissues were determined and mean absorbed doses from 177Lu were calculated. There was a specific tumor uptake of either 177Lu-octreotate or 111In-MG0. 177Lu-octreotate samples showed high activity concentrations in tissues expressing somatostatin receptors (SSTR). For both radiopharmaceuticals the highest activity concentrations were found in the kidneys. Compared to results from similar studies in mice with another MTC cell line (TT) the biodistribution was favorable (higher tumor uptake) for the GOT2 model, while compared to other animal models expressing SSTR, the tumor uptake of 177Lu-octreotate was modest. In conclusion, the GOT2 animal model is a valuable model for evaluation and optimization of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using radiolabeled somatostatin, CCK2 and gastrin analogues prior to clinical studies.

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