Novel cancer-targeting SPECT/NIRF dual-modality imaging probe (99m)Tc-PC-1007: synthesis and biological evaluation.

Synthesis, characterization, in vitro and in vivo biological evaluation of a heptamethine cyanine based dual-mode single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/near infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging probe 99mTc-PC-1007 is described. 99mTc-PC-1007 exhibited preferential accumulation in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Cancer-specific SPECT/CT and NIRF imaging of 99mTc-PC-1007 was performed in a breast cancer xenograft model. The probe uptake ratio of tumor to control (spinal cord) was calculated to be 4.02±0.56 at 6h post injection (pi) and 8.50±1.41 at 20h pi (P<0.0001). Pharmacokinetic parameters such as blood clearance and organ distribution were assessed.