[Comparative study of uptake and washout of 99mTcn(NOEt)2 with 99mTc-MIBI in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE].

Objective: To determine the cellular kinetics of 99mTc-bis {N-ethoxy-N-ethyl dithiocarbamato-nitrido [N(NOEt)2]} in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE cells line and to compare it with the cellular kinetics of 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) in the same conditions; to define the possible clinical application value of 99mTcN(NOEt)2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma imaging.

Method: 99mTcN(NOEt)2 or 99mTc-MIBI were incubated with CNE cells at 37degrees C, 22 degrees C, at different time points after incubation, the uptake and washout characteristics of radiotracers in CNE cells were investigated and compared.

Result: The maximum uptake ratio of 99mTcN(NOEt)2 in CNE cells was 43.15%, that of 99mTc-MIBI was 11.08% (P < 0.01). The uptake of 99mTcN(NOEt)2 after 5 min incubation in CNE cells was 63% of total uptake, uptake of 99mTc-MIBI was 48% of total uptake (P < 0.05); 1 h after removal of the unbound tracer, 63.92% of the total uptake of 99TcN(NOEt)2 was retained in the CNE cells, 53. 97% of 99mTc-MIBI was retained (P < 0.05); not like 99mTc-MIBI, the cellular kinetics of 99mTcN (NOEt)2 were similar at 37 degrees C and 22 degrees C ( P > 0.05).

Conclusion: 99mTcN(NOEt)2 may be a gamma imaging agent better than 99mTc-MIBI for nasopharyngeal carcinoma imaging. 99mTcN(NOEt)2 is a potential human nasopharyngeal carcinoma imaging agent.