Alpha-PET with terbium-149: evidence and perspectives for radiotheragnostics

Cristina Müller; Christiaan Vermeulen; Ulli Köster; Karl Johnston; Andreas Türler; Roger Schibli; Nicholas P van der Meulen

doi:10.1186/s41181-016-0008-2

Alpha-PET with terbium-149: evidence and perspectives for radiotheragnostics

EJNMMI Radiopharm Chem. 2017;1(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s41181-016-0008-2. Epub 2016 Mar 28.

Authors

Cristina Müller¹, Christiaan Vermeulen¹, Ulli Köster², Karl Johnston³, Andreas Türler^{4

5}, Roger Schibli^{1

6}, Nicholas P van der Meulen^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences ETH-PSI-USZ, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen-PSI, Switzerland.
² Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France.
³ Physics Department, ISOLDE/CERN, Geneva, Switzerland.
⁴ Laboratory of Radiochemistry, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen-PSI, Switzerland.
⁵ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
⁶ Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Abstract

¹⁴⁹Tb represents a powerful alternative to currently used α-emitters: the relatively short half-life (T_1/2 = 4.1 h), low α-energy (3.97 MeV, I_α = 16.7 %), absence of α-emitting daughters and stable coordination via DOTA are favorable features for potential clinical application. In this letter, we wish to highlight the unique characteristics of ¹⁴⁹Tb for PET imaging, based on its positron emission (E_β+mean = 730 keV, I_β+ = 7.1 %) in addition to it's a therapeutic value. To this end, a preclinical study with a tumor-bearing mouse is presented. The perspective of alpha-PET makes ¹⁴⁹Tb highly appealing for radiotheragnostic applications in future clinical trials.

Keywords: 149Tb; AR42J tumor; DOTANOC; PET imaging; mass separation; radiolanthanide; α-radionuclide therapy.