SMALL TECHNETIUM-99M AND RHENIUM LABELED AGENTS AND METHODS FOR IMAGING TUMORS

摘要

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (1) (where the variables R A, R B, R c and n are as defined in the claims) and related technetium and rhenium complexes thereof which are suitable for imaging or therapeutic treatment of tumors, e.g., carcinomas, melanomas and other tumors. In another embodiment, the invention relates to methods of imaging tumors using radiolabelled metal complexes. Preferred radiolabelled complexes for imaging tumors include technetium and rhenium complexes. The high tumor uptake and significant tumour/nontumour ratios of the technetium complexes of the invention indicated that such small technetium-99m-based molecular probes can be developed as in-vivo diagnostic agents for melanoma and its metastases. In yet another embodiment, the invention relates to methods for treatment of tumours using a radiolabelled metal complex as a radiopharmaceutical agent to treat the tumor.