In vivo comparison of Lu-177-labeled phosphonate compounds as potential agents for bone pain palliation in rodents

Lutetium-177 ($T_{1/2}=6.71day$) is an adequate radionuclide for therapy, which has both beta emission ($E_{max}=497keV$) for therapeutic effect and gamma emission (113 and 208 keV) for imaging. $^{177}Lu$ labeled ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (methylene phosphonic acid) (EDTMP) and 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraaminomethylenephosphonate (DOTMP) have been proposed as radiopharmaceuticals for bone pain palliation. In this study, we compared radiochemistry and biodistribution of $^{177}Lu$-EDTMP and $^{177}Lu$-DOTMP. EDTMP and DOTMP were synthesized, and 1 mg of each was labeled with $^{177}Lu$ at pH 7~8 with high efficiency (>98%). For comparative biodistribution studies, $^{177}Lu$-EDTMP or $^{177}Lu$-DOTMP were injected into ICR-mice through tail vein, and then biodistribution data were obtained as percentages of injected dose per gram of tissue (% ID/g). Urine excretions of both agents in mice were checked for 7 days. Rat images were also obtained after injection of $^{177}Lu$-EDTMP or $^{177}Lu$-DOTMP. $^{177}Lu$-DOTMP (100% at 1 min) showed faster labeling than $^{177}Lu$-EDTMP (100% at 30 min). Both of them were stable at least for 21 days at room temperature. High bone uptakes were found for both $^{177}Lu$-EDTMP and $^{177}Lu$-DOTMP: 38.0 and 34.1% ID/g at 3 hr, respectively; and 33.2 and 18.8% ID/g at 7 day, respectively. Rapid excretions to urine were found for both agents ($^{177}Lu$-EDTMP: 56%, $^{177}Lu$-DOTMP: 63% at 1 day). Other organs showed very low uptakes. Rat images of both $^{177}Lu$-EDTMP and $^{177}Lu$-DOTMP showed high bone uptakes and low soft tissue uptakes. In conclusion, both $^{177}Lu$-EDTMP and $^{177}Lu$-DOTMP showed high potential as bone pain palliation agents. $^{177}Lu$-EDTMP showed higher bone uptake and slower bone clearance in mice than those of $^{177}Lu$-DOTMP.