Abstract

<sup>68</sup>Ga-NODAGA-LM3 (where LM3 is <i>p</i>-Cl-Phe-cyclo(d-Cys-Tyr-d-4-amino-Phe(carbamoyl)-Lys-Thr-Cys)d-Tyr-NH<sub>2</sub>) and <sup>68</sup>Ga-DOTA-LM3 are somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2)–specific antagonists used for PET/CT imaging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety, biodistribution, and dosimetry of <sup>68</sup>Ga-NODAGA-LM3 and <sup>68</sup>Ga-DOTA-LM3 in patients with well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors. <b>Methods:</b> Patients were equally randomized into 2 arms, with arm A receiving <sup>68</sup>Ga-NODAGA-LM3 and arm B receiving <sup>68</sup>Ga-DOTA-LM3. Serial PET scans were acquired at 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 120 min after <sup>68</sup>Ga-NODAGA-LM3 (200 MBq ± 11 MBq/40 μg of total peptide mass) or <sup>68</sup>Ga-DOTA-LM3 (172 MBq ± 21 MBq/40 μg of total peptide mass) injection. The biodistribution in normal organs, tumor uptake, and safety were assessed. Radiation dosimetry was calculated using OLINDA/EXM (version 1.0). <b>Results:</b> Sixteen patients, 8 in each arm, were recruited in the study. Both tracers were well tolerated in most patients. Two patients in arm B had nausea (grade 2), and one of them had vomiting (grade 1). The PET images of the other 14 patients were further analyzed. Significantly lower organ uptake was observed in the pituitary, parotids, liver, spleen, pancreas, adrenal, stomach, small intestine, and kidneys with <sup>68</sup>Ga-DOTA-LM3 than with <sup>68</sup>Ga-NODAGA-LM3. In total, 38 lesions were analyzed, including 18 with <sup>68</sup>Ga-NODAGA-LM3 and 20 with <sup>68</sup>Ga-DOTA-LM3. Both tracers showed good tumor uptake and retention. With <sup>68</sup>Ga-NODAGA-LM3, the tracer accumulation in tumor lesions increased by 138%, from an average SUV<sub>max</sub> of 31.3 ± 19.7 at 5 min to 74.6 ± 56.3 at 2 h. With <sup>68</sup>Ga-DOTA-LM3, the tumor uptake rapidly reached a high level at 5 min after injection, with an average SUV<sub>max</sub> of 36.6 ± 23.6, and continued to increase to 45.3 ± 29.3 until 30 min after injection. The urinary bladder wall was the organ receiving the highest absorbed dose in both arms. The mean effective dose was 0.026 ± 0.003 mSv/MBq for <sup>68</sup>Ga-NODAGA-LM3 and 0.025 ± 0.002 mSv/MBq for <sup>68</sup>Ga-DOTA-LM3. <b>Conclusion:</b> Both <sup>68</sup>Ga-NODAGA-LM3 and <sup>68</sup>Ga-DOTA-LM3 show favorable biodistribution, high tumor uptake, and good tumor retention, resulting in high image contrast. The dosimetric data are comparable to those for other <sup>68</sup>Ga-labeled SSTR2 antagonists. Further studies are required to look into the potential antagonistic effects of <sup>68</sup>Ga-NODAGA-LM3 and <sup>68</sup>Ga-DOTA-LM3.

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